A 37-year-old West Jordan man is behind bars after police say a traffic stop exploded into a multi-mile chase that left one officer thrown from a vehicle and ended in a crash along the Mountain View Corridor last Friday.
Investigators say the driver, identified as Brandon Bret Calder, took off from the stop with an officer positioned between the door and the passenger compartment. Court records state that Calder allegedly “threw the officer from the vehicle” as he fled. The pursuit continued for several miles before Calder crashed and, according to police, tried to bolt into a backyard, where officers ultimately caught up with him.
Calder now faces more than a dozen charges, including failure to respond to officers' signals to stop, assault on a peace officer, possession of a controlled substance, and reckless driving, according to court documents. Detectives reported finding drug paraphernalia in his car and said he appeared sluggish and had trouble focusing during an interview. He allegedly told officers he had last used narcotics the night before and believed the substance was fentanyl. Calder is being held without bail, as reported by FOX 13 News.
What police say
Court records lay out a chaotic sequence. “He threw the officer from the vehicle,” the documents state, describing how Calder allegedly accelerated away from the stop with the officer still in the door frame area.
Officers tracked the fleeing vehicle northbound on Mountain View Corridor. They say Calder drove more than 15 miles per hour over the posted speed limit, used the right shoulder to pass other drivers, and hit another motorist before finally coming to a stop. Police say he then tried to run off on foot before he was taken into custody, as reported by FOX 13 News.
Charges and legal stakes
Under Utah law, failing to stop for an officer can be treated as a felony with potential fines and driver’s license consequences, according to Justia’s summary of Utah Code §41-6a-210. Assault against a peace officer carries enhanced penalties and may be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the officer’s injuries and other circumstances, per Justia’s overview of Utah Code §76-5-102.4.
Taken together, those statutes give prosecutors room to pursue multiple overlapping counts tied to the same chase and the alleged assault on the officer.
What happens next
The case is expected to be referred to the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office for a final call on formal charges in Third District Court. Local officials have not released any additional information about the officer’s condition.
If prosecutors file charges, Calder’s first court appearance and arraignment will likely be scheduled in the coming days.
