Not guilty plea in high speed chase and standoff.
This item is available in full to subscribers.
To continue reading, you will need to either log in to your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription.
If you are a current print subscriber, you can set up a free website account and connect your subscription to it by clicking here.
If you are a digital subscriber with an active, online-only subscription then you already have an account here. Just reset your password if you've not yet logged in to your account on this new site.
Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing.
Please log in to continue |
EVANSTON — A Utah man officials say was involved in a high-speed chase and standoff with law enforcement resulting in the LifeFlight of a Wyoming Highway Patrol trooper last month was arraigned in Third District Court on Tuesday, June 12.
Walter A. Hill pleaded not guilty to all six counts stemming from the incident, including felony aggravated assault and battery for threatening to use a drawn deadly weapon on WHP Trooper Remington Roberts.
The other five counts are all misdemeanor offenses, including reckless endangering of the LifeFlighted WHP Trooper, Austin Bluemel, reckless endangering of the citizens of Uinta County, interfering with a peace officer, fleeing or attempting to elude peace officers and exceeding maximum speed limits on a highway.
Court documents state that on the evening of May 9, Roberts observed a red Dodge pickup traveling without headlights run a stop sign at the off-ramp from Interstate 80 onto US 189. When Roberts attempted to pull over the driver of the pickup, the Dodge accelerated to speeds more than 100 miles per hour.
The Dodge veered back and forth into both lanes of traffic and onto the shoulders, still with no lights on, and at one point the brakes were abruptly applied nearly resulting in a collision with the pursuing WHP vehicle. The chase continued as multiple other agencies became involved and several attempts were made to stop the Dodge using road spikes.
It was during the pursuit Bluemel lost control of his vehicle, rolling multiple times before coming to a stop in a ditch. While an officer stopped to assist Bluemel, others continued to make use of road spikes to stop the Dodge and were eventually successful.
In total, Hill faces a maximum of approximately 13 1/2 years behind bars, a $13,450 fine and associated court costs and fees.
Judge Joseph B. Bluemel ordered Hill to undergo a pre-sentence investigation and a substance abuse assessment. A pre-trial conference was set for Aug. 16 and a trial for Oct. 23.
Trooper Bluemel spent about 24 hours in a Utah hospital, is doing fine and is now back to work. The fact he was wearing a seatbelt is credited with saving his life
