A man and a woman were arrested after a high-speed chase that reached 110 mph and stretched about 35 miles before a brief standoff that led to an officer shocking the couple with a stun gun Tuesday.
The driver was identified as Melanie Denise Vest, 32, and her passenger, Eric Johnson Vest, 29. Both are from the Salt River Indian Community.
About 10:20 a.m., a DPS officer was on patrol along state Route 87 and clocked a minivan at more than 90 mph when the officer initiated a pursuit. The woman who was driving the van failed to pull over for the officer, according to Sgt. Robert Bailey, a DPS spokesman.
Assisted by the Phoenix Police Department’s air unit and Mesa police, the DPS officer was able to get the van to come to a stop after deploying “stop sticks” to slow the van down as alcohol containers were being thrown out of the van, Bailey said.
The woman swerved toward a Mesa police officer, coming within a few feet of hitting him while the van still was traveling at a high rate of speed, Bailey said. The van came to a stop at Mesa Drive and Inglewood in Mesa’s Lehi district about 11 a.m., Bailey said.
The couple initially barricaded themselves in the van, but after they got out of the vehicle an officer had to subdue them with a stun gun.
According to DPS, after she is released from the hospital, Melanie Denise Vest will be booked into 4th Avenue Jail on suspicion of aggravated assault on a police officer, felony flight, and aggravated DUI. Eric Johnson Vest will be booked by Mesa Police Department for an outstanding arrest warrant stemming from a shoplifting charge, after he is released from the hospital.
11secgn posted at 7:21 pm on Wed, Jul 20, 2011.
arthursmail, I believe the article read, the male is going to be booked on an outstanding warrant. "Cops are morons"?????
RH... before you judge police officer's on their actions... educate yourself and go to the citizens police academy to learn what police officers do and encounter on a daily basis. Im sure you never had the displeasure of a couple of criminals in a stolen vehicle try to run you over....
NoSense posted at 6:21 am on Wed, Jul 20, 2011.
"Couple stunned after high speed chase" I read that and wondered how could they be surprised they were being chased by police.
After getting shot with a stun gun you would be charged too(not sure if it is a positive or negative charge).
Stunned and charged, I would have to say it is a very electrifying story.
Slabside posted at 8:11 pm on Tue, Jul 19, 2011.
Let's here it for empty mags!!! [beam]
Cannondax posted at 6:19 pm on Tue, Jul 19, 2011.
Yes Slabside arthur does appear to be a Moron. Rational... The cop defiantly showed more restraint than I would have. Here's to empty clips!
RationalHuman posted at 4:51 pm on Tue, Jul 19, 2011.
"The woman swerved toward a Mesa police officer, coming within a few feet of hitting him"
Given the history of the MPD and their stories of why they shoot entire clips of bullets into teenagers in "stolen" vehicles, these two are lucky to be alive!
arthursmail posted at 3:34 pm on Tue, Jul 19, 2011.
the passenger is charged? how on earth can the passenger be charged when they are not doing anything but sitting there. the passenger has no control of the vehicle, is the person supposed to jump out at high speeds. geez cops are morons