A brief chase in Uintah County over the weekend involving a stolen vehicle turned up drugs and a loaded handgun. According to a press release from the Uintah County Sheriff’s Office, Uintah County sheriff’s deputies and Vernal police attempted to stop a suspected stolen vehicle on Vernal Avenue at about 10:10pm on Saturday. “The driver stopped briefly, then made a U-turn and headed south on Vernal Avenue,” shares the Sheriff’s Office. “At about 500 North, the driver made another U-turn in an effort to avoid police and headed north on Vernal Avenue, which is also known as US-191. The chase reached speeds of 80 mph before spike strips were successfully deployed near 3000 North. With its tires flattened, the fleeing vehicle left the road and went into a stand of trees where the driver and passenger were taken into custody without further incident.” Siaosa M. Tonga, the driver of the vehicle, had a cigarette pack that held what he admitted was methamphetamine. 3.5 grams of heroin was also found during a search of Tonga and his property and a search of the car turned up a loaded .380-caliber handgun. Tonga was booked into jail for investigation of failure to respond to an officer’s signal to stop, receiving a stolen vehicle, possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, transaction of a firearm by a Class II restricted person, and driving on a suspended license. Tonga had been released from prison in March after serving 15 months on felony convictions.
