TREMONTON - By Ellen Cook, Headliner Media Specialist, October 5, 2021
A 21-year-old man from Pennsylvania, suspected in the murder of a man in Nampa, Idaho, was arrested by Box Elder County law enforcement officers following a pursuit on I-84, through Tremonton and ending on the Iowa String Road.
According to Sgt. Andy Marchant of the Tremonton/Garland Police Department, numerous calls about a reckless driver began coming in from the Snowville area about 11 p.m. on September 16. According to the callers, a man in a white Dodge Ram pickup was driving erratically and running other drivers off the road, nearly causing several accidents.
Marchant said he joined with a Utah Highway Patrol officer in an attempt to apprehend the vehicle, which was identified as stolen out of Idaho, and was of interest in the murder investigation of James Daniel Chantz, 21, who was found in a Nampa apartment with multiple gunshot wounds in his body.
A chase ensued, reaching speeds of over one hundred mph. The suspect, identified as Christopher Williams, left the freeway at the Garland exit near the county road sheds. At that point UHP discontinued the chase, as per policy, but Marchant said he continue with backup from Tremonton/Garland and Box Elder County Sheriff’s Department.
The driver sped through Tremonton, around the high school and then back to Main Street before heading down the Iowa String Road, where he crashed his vehicle at about 9800 North, and then attempted to flee on foot.
He was apprehended about 15 yards away, arrested at gunpoint and handcuffed. Multiple firearms, including four rifles and a handgun, along with open containers of alcohol were found inside the truck belonging to Chantz.
While in custody, Marchant said Williams spat on at least three officers. He was booked into the Box Elder County Jail on charges of Failing to Respond to an Officer, Propelling Objects at Police, Theft by Receiving Stolen Property, Possession of a Dangerous Weapon, Open Container, Interfering with an Arresting Officer, Reckless Driving and DUI.
He was later picked up by Nampa Police and returned to Idaho where he faces the murder charges.
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