SPRINGVILLE, UTAH — (News Release / Utah County Sheriff’s Office) — On November 27, 2016, a few minutes before 8:30 AM, a Deputy with the Utah County Sheriff’s Office saw the driver of a commercial tree trimming truck run two stop signs. The driver of that truck was also speeding. The Deputy saw the first violation in the area of 400 North 400 East in Springville.
As the Deputy turned on his emergency lights the driver of the truck refused to stop and accelerated away. The Deputy also turned on his siren but the driver continued to flee. As the Deputy pursued the truck he could see in the truck’s rearview mirror that the driver was looking at him.
When the truck reached the area of 1050 East Center Street in Springville the driver stopped in the middle of the road. The driver of the truck backed his truck at high speed toward the Deputy in his patrol car. The Deputy was unable to get out of the way and was hit by the truck, pushing his patrol car more than 60 feet. The Deputy sustained minor injuries and was able to broadcast a description of the truck that hit him as well as a description of the driver.
Nearby residents told the Deputy who drives the truck. After checking the driver license for that person he confirmed that it was the person who was driving the truck. The driver was Jesse Gardner Anderson, age 37, from Springville. Deputies, with the assistance of the Utah Highway Patrol and one of their helicopters, Springville Police, and Mapleton Police, searched the area.
With information from nearby residents they identified a duplex and an apartment where they believed Anderson was hiding. A few minutes before 10:30 AM investigators found Anderson and took him into custody without further incident.
Utah Highway Patrol is conducting the crash investigation for this incident. Anderson has a history of these kinds of interactions with law enforcement.
His Utah Criminal History includes two convictions for DUI, disorderly conduct, failing to stop at the command of police, intoxication, carrying a dangerous weapon while under the influence of alcohol, leaving the scene of an accident, driving without insurance, driving with a revoked driver license, and driving without an ignition interlock device. Anderson is currently on felony probation with the Utah Department of Adult Probation and Parole.
Anderson was booked into the Utah County Jail on the following charges: Attempted Aggravated Murder on a Police Officer, first degree felony; Criminal Mischief-Recklessly Causing Damage, second degree felony; Fail to Respond to Officer’s Signal to Stop-With Injury, second degree felony; Fail to Stop or Respond at Command of Police, second degree felony; DUI-Two Prior Convictions Within Ten Years, third degree felony; Failure to Remain at the Scene of an Accident With Injury, class A misdemeanor; Failure to Install Ignition Interlock Device, class B misdemeanor; Driving on Revoked Driver License-Alcohol Related, class B Misdemeanor; and Reckless Driving, class B Misdemeanor.
