Before Bret Michael Edmunds was wanted for questioning on the disappearance of Elizabeth Smart he was wanted by the U Police Department.
On June 7, a judge issued a warrant for Edmunds’ arrest for failure to respond to an officer’s signal to stop. Five days later detectives in the kidnapping case asked for the public’s help in finding Edmunds.
The charge, a third-degree felony, stems from an April 20 incident.
According to court documents, Officer Aaron Rosen responded to a phone call reporting someone unconscious or asleep in a parked car near the block U.
A police report states the officer found Edmunds and woke him. Rosen reportedly spotted a hypodermic needle near the car and smelled alcohol on the suspect. A background check yielded a felony warrant for Edmunds’ arrest on fraud. According to the report, Edmunds sped away, nearly hitting Rosen, who was approaching the vehicle a second time. Safety precautions forced Rosen to avoid a high-speed pursuit through the residential area.
A June 4 statement signed by UPD Detective Troy Martinez stated that Edmunds ignored verbal commands to turn off his vehicle before driving away.
The reason for terminating the chase differs from the earlier police report. It states that Rosen lost sight of the suspect vehicle which was running stop signs and reaching speeds of 70 mph.
UPD officials are reluctant to comment any further on the Edmunds incident.
“We don’t want to interfere with Salt Lake City’s investigation,” Sergeant Lynn Rohland said.
The incident near the block U was reported in late April by the Daily Utah Chronicle.