Multi-department car chase leads to capture of fugitive

ELWOOD, Utah — On Wednesday, a probation fugitive fled from police in a high-speed car chase that involved multiple police departments. 

At approximately 12:45 p.m., Weber County Adult Probation and Parole received a tip on the location of 24-year-old Brandler Stone. 

How he became a wanted person

In Aug. 2024, Stone was sentenced to serve up to five years in the Utah State Prison for possession of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance within a correctional facility. That sentence remained, and Stone was then placed on probation.

On Feb. 3, after missing an office appointment as part of his parole, a warrant for Stone’s arrest was filed. According to the charging documents, the last successful parole home visit to Stone was on Dec. 18.

Case documents also said that on Jan. 14, Stone had tested positive for meth. That same day it was recorded that a search of his phone revealed a video from New Year’s Eve that showed him with a firearm on his person. Then, in a search of the car that Stone shared with his girlfriend, a controlled substance was found. 

Stone further violated his parole by failing to gain employment or to enroll in a treatment plan 90 days after his jail release on Nov. 7, 2024. 

On Jan. 15 Stone’s parole officer, Jake Jensen, reported that his mother texted saying he had fled the state and was on the run as he believed he had a warrant out for him.

The car chase

Officers received a tip that Stone was in Ogden, according to Karen Tapahe, spokesperson for the Utah Department of Corrections. 

When officers went to perform a traffic stop on Stone, he attempted to hit them with his car before taking off north on U.S. Route 89. Tapahe confirmed that the car Stone was driving was his girlfriend’s car. In his attempt to escape, police said Stone hit speeds over 100 mph and drove into oncoming traffic.

At 1000 North U.S. 89 in Willard, a Willard police officer spotted Stone and also started following him. When he reached Perry, the Perry police also joined the car chase. Then, as he passed through Brigham City, Brigham City Police also joined the chase. As for the Weber County AP&P, Tapahe said they ended their chase as soon as Stone left Weber County, allowing the other agencies to take over.

From Brigham City, the driver tried evading police on Interstate 15, where Utah Highway Patrol then joined the car chase. 

Police were able to spike his car on I-15 near mile post 362, leading to Stone crashing.

Stone then fled on foot across the interstate to a Maverick where he stole a pickup truck that belonged to a construction crew in the area. 

In the truck, he continued northbound on I-15. Near mile post 372, Tremonton police spotted the truck and also joined the chase. 

Stone then took off down a dirt road that ended in a dead end. After crashing the truck into Bear River near Hansen Park in Elwood, he took off on foot again. 

Police considered him armed and dangerous at this time and initiated a shelter-in-place for Elwood residents. Police then blocked off the area and used K-9s and drones to search for him. 

Stone was shortly spotted swimming across the river and was taken into custody at 1:34 p.m. After being pulled from the river he was checked for cold exposure. Chief Deputy Sheriff of Box Elder County Cade Palmer said that police believe that Stone was trying to escape to Idaho.

Palmer also reported the Box Elder County scuba team was called to assist in getting the truck out of the river, and no other drivers were injured from the car chase.

Related:

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• Chase for stolen vehicle leads to patrol car wreck, police say