Court documents fill in the gaps of what happened following a hit and run in Vernal in which a young woman was struck and dragged several blocks on August 13th. According to the Affidavit of Probable Cause, officers responded to the area of 300 West and 500 South at approximately 10:40am on a report of a motor vehicle accident involving a cyclist. The cyclist had been struck at Vernal Avenue and dragged to 300 West. Witnesses at the scene advised that the vehicle that struck the cyclist and fled the scene was a black SUV being driven by a male. Camera footage from the Uintah Rec Center showed the incident and the SUV was identified as being a black Nissan with a white sticker in the rear driver side window and push guard on the front grill. Camera footage from the Uintah Care Center showed the same black Nissan traveling at a high rate of speed and not stopping at the four way stop intersection at 500 West. In canvassing the area, investigators located a black Nissan Pathfinder parked at a nearby residence. The registered owner of the vehicle came back as 42-year-old Ramos Ray Cesspooch. Additional officers were called to the location. It was observed that there was no sticker on the driver side rear window but the area appeared to be freshly cleaned. Officers approached the residence and spoke with Cesspooch who claimed that nobody had been driving the vehicle. Officers noticed that there was condensation under the vehicle and heat was coming from the vehicle’s engine bay. Cesspooch changed his story, stating that he and another resident of the home had driven to see their probation officer that morning but had come right back home. Hair consistent with the cyclist that was struck was observed in the passenger side front wheel well of the vehicle yet still Cesspooch denied hitting anything. Cesspooch and Shiloh Wyasket were then brought into custody on a probation hold. A search warrant was acquired and a knife was located in the kitchen with pieces of sticker on it. Parts of the sticker peeled from the car were also found in the outside garbage can. It also appeared adhesive had been removed from the vehicle window and pieces of the sticker were on the ground near the vehicle as well. Cesspooch is charged with traffic violations, as well as Misdemeanor Driving on a Suspended License, Reckless Driving, and 3rd Degree Felony Failure to Remain at an Accident Involving Serious Injury, and Obstruction of Justice. He’s being held without bail. The young woman seriously injured in the accident is still in the hospital recovering.
