Grand theft auto only happens in the big city and having security cameras will deter
thieves, right? Well in a case from Uintah County that happened last week you would be
wrong on both accounts. According to court documents, homeowners called authorities
on November 23rd as they watched on their security cameras a man who walked up to
their vehicle, got in, and drove away. The homeowners reported to officers that they had
left the keys in the car but were about to go out and lock it when they saw the man on the
security footage. Officers spread out and the vehicle was spotted in the area on 3500
West. A pursuit ensued. Near the corner of 500 South and 3500 West an officer noticed a
large amount of dirt and dust in the air and was able to locate the vehicle in the backyard
of a residence about 60 feet off the roadway. Hearing a crash, the property owner had
come outside and told officers he had seen a man running east of 500 South in front of his
house. The man was located laying in the weeds near the road on 500 South. Using the
footage from the security cameras, officers were able to positively identify the man as the
suspect. 42-year-old Charles Uriah Wright was arrested and booked into Uintah County
Jail for the offenses of Felony Operable Motor Vehicle Theft, Failure to Respond to
Officers Signal to Stop, Driving Under the Influence, and Failure to Comply with Duties
at a Vehicle Accident with Property Damage. Wright was found to be on Felony
Probation out of the Salt Lake area and it was found he has prior felony burglary and theft
charges. He is scheduled for his initial appearance in court today.
