Car search yields a parole violator

A wide-ranging sweep for stolen cars yielded something else on Saturday: a parole violator who tried to elude police but was nabbed after being tracked by a helicopter.

Several local police agencies, essentially organized into a task force, took part in searching for stolen vehicles, according to West Valley Police Sgt. Steve Burke.

Officers originally spotted the man — who has outstanding warrants, is on probation and is a suspect in a Taylorsville home invasion robbery — on a bullet-bike motorcycle near 5000 South and 4000 West.

"One of our officers saw him at about 4700 South and Bangerter Highway," Burke said. "But as soon as he saw the officer, he just took off."

A bullet bike is a small, lightweight motorcycle that can move quickly and easily in urban areas.

"They're very maneuverable, very light, have good acceleration," Burke said. "You can get some off the showroom floor that can go 210 mph."

Unfortunately for this man, a Department of Public Safety helicopter already in use for the stolen-car search quickly followed the man's route into downtown Salt Lake City. He crashed into a car at 2100 South and 500 East and was arrested there.

The man received a medical examination, was found to have had only minor injuries and was promptly taken to prison.

— Linda Thomson