By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
Three men were arrested after an alert citizen
observed them taking money from a vending machine in front
of a local business on Thursday, Nov. 15.
Arrested at the south Santaquin freeway exchange,
following a high speed chase, were three men: Christopher
Wanamaker, 40; Roger Lewis, 44; and Darrol Bringhurst, 48.
All three men were from Salt Lake City.
Steve and Garrison Ludlow, who were at the
family-owned business, Nephi Lumber, on Nephi's Main Street
in North Nephi, observed a man, dressed in a Pepsi shirt
opening the Pepsi vending machine in front of the store.
"Something just didn't seem right," said Chad Bowles,
Nephi City Police Chief. The man was approached and
questioned.
When the man was asked about what he was doing, he
became evasive. He reported that he needed to go to his
vehicle for a minute and then jumped in with two other
males.
The vehicle began to proceed south on Main Street and,
eventually, the vehicle entered the freeway at the south
exchange headed north.
"Garrison Ludlow had jumped into his vehicle and was
following the suspects," said Bowles. The police department
was notified about what was happening and they called for
assistance in making the stop.
The suspect vehicle reached speeds upwards of 110 mph
as they tried to evade officers.
Garrison Ludlow followed the suspect vehicle all the
way to the Santaquin exit where police officers were able to
stop the vehicle and make the arrests.
"Two of the men were arrested right away," said
Bowles. "One of the men jumped from the vehicle as it went
under the freeway on the underpass. He then hid in the weeds
and it took some time to locate and arrest him."
Local Nephi City Police were joined in the pursuit by
Juab County Deputies and Utah Highway Patrol Troopers.
Bruce Beal, Nephi City Police Detective, was the
investigating officer.
"That was pretty sharp action on the part of Garrison
Ludlow," said Bowles. "A lot of times, burglars get away
with thefts of this type but, thanks to Ludlow's quick
reaction, these three did not get away."
Bowles said the three men had an extensive amount of
burglary tools, keys on key rings, and other types of
equipment, such as small tools used to pick locks, in their
possession at the time of the arrest.
"As they went under the freeway they threw a bunch of
stuff out, such as money and burglary tools," said
Bowles.
Wanamaker was charged with driving on a suspended
license, possession of stolen property, possession of
burglary tools, possession of illegal drugs, felony evading
and theft.
Both Lewis and Bringhurst were charged with possession
of stolen property, possession of burglary tools, theft and
felony evading.
All three were taken to Juab County Jail.
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