A Hurricane man faces felony charges after leading police officers on a chase after he drove through a fast food drive-thru the wrong way.
James Daniel Wright Cassman, 33, was arrested last Thursday morning for multiple charges, including aggravated assault against law enforcement.
The incident began when a caller reported a black Jeep Grand Cherokee entering a restaurant drive-thru the wrong way, endangering several customers. The restaurant was located on Sunset Blvd in St. George.
Minutes after the call was sent in, a police officer located a Jeep matching the description and turned on its emergency lights. The vehicle fled at high speeds, crossing into oncoming traffic. The police officers then started in pursuit.
The pursuit continued through several residential areas, before the jeep crashed into a power box near the south entrance of Gubler Park in Santa Clara. After exiting the vehicle, officers reported the smell of alcohol and noted that the suspect had trouble standing upright. The suspect allegedly became aggressive towards them, and was stunned when the officers utilized a taser against him.
Cassman was transported to Purgatory Correctional Facility in Hurricane, Utah. He was formally charged on Friday with two third-degree felony accounts of aggravated assault. He also faces third-degree felony charges for DUI with two or more prior offenses and failure to stop at the command of police. He’s also charged with misdemeanor counts of reckless driving, refusal to submit to a chemical test and being an alcohol-restricted driver.
Cassman made his initial appearance last Friday in the 5th District Court in St. George.
Author: Conner Dean
Photo courtesy of the Santa Clara-Ivins Police Department
Editor: Hannah Clove
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