Pair arrested in Provo burglary

PROVO — Two Utah County men were arrested after police said they were involved in a robbery and beating and then crashed their car while fleeing the scene.

Police said Victor Garcia, 22, broke into a home Saturday about 4 a.m. near 900 East and 360 South in Provo and slugged an occupant in the face with an item placed in a sock. Witnesses told police they chased away Garcia and Mitchell Viles, 26, of Spanish Fork, who was armed with a baseball bat.

A short time later, police spotted the pair's car on University Avenue and chased it 11 blocks north until Garcia took a turn too fast and crashed into a ditch, according to an affidavit filed in 4th District Court.

Police said Garcia gave them his brother's name and Social Security number to hide his identity because he had an outstanding warrant from Vernal in an aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Garcia had a strong odor of alcohol on his breath, failed sobriety tests and tested positive for several drugs, police said. He was booked for investigation of burglary, assault, giving false information, evading police and driving under the influence.

Viles was jailed for investigation of burglary.

— Paul Koepp