Gustavo Dee Chavez, 24, is being held in the Salt Lake County jail without bail following a series of vehicle hijackings in Sandy on Tuesday. According to a November 11 report by Gephardt Daily, Chavez faces multiple felony charges including two counts of aggravated robbery.
Court documents filed by the Sandy City Police Department state that Chavez first attempted to steal a vehicle at 9346 S. 700 East in Sandy. During the encounter, Chavez allegedly pointed a firearm at a victim and fired a round into the ground near the victim's feet after the victim refused to hand over the keys. The victim eventually surrendered the keys and fled on foot. Chavez reportedly attempted to start the vehicle multiple times before leaving the car and fleeing on foot without the vehicle.
Chavez later stole a second vehicle from a victim at 178 E. 9140 South in Sandy by pointing a firearm and demanding the car. The stolen vehicle contained a license plate reported stolen out of Sandy. Police tracked the vehicle via GPS to Herriman, where officers attempted to stop Chavez. During the pursuit, Chavez fled at a high rate of speed and traveled southbound in northbound lanes, creating what officials described as a substantial risk to the public.
Chavez was eventually located in Saratoga Springs, where he allegedly ditched the vehicle in a residential parking lot and fled on foot. The vehicle was found with a different license plate on it. The charges against Chavez include receiving or transferring a stolen vehicle, aggravated assault, and felony discharge of a firearm.
The investigation involved multiple jurisdictions as Chavez fled through various areas. The arrest document noted that Chavez used a firearm in the commission of carjackings and drove the wrong way on a road during the pursuit.
