A Utah man who led officers on a dangerous pursuit through West Valley City has admitted guilt to multiple criminal charges, confirming key details of an August incident in which he rammed several patrol vehicles while attempting to escape arrest.
Prosecutors say Shawn Michael Woody, 34, entered his plea on Nov. 3 in Utah’s 3rd District Court. Under the agreement, Woody pleaded guilty to theft of a vehicle, assaulting a police officer, and failing to respond to an officer’s signal to stop. Several other charges, including possession of a stolen firearm and interfering with police, were dismissed as part of the negotiated resolution.
(For more on Utah court procedures, see the official Utah State Courts website.)
Intense pursuit left multiple police vehicles damaged
According to charging documents, officers confronted Woody after locating a stolen Toyota 4-Runner containing a stolen firearm. When officers attempted to box in the vehicle, Woody accelerated, using the SUV to ram four patrol cars in an effort to break free. Police had already deployed a stop stick that punctured a tire, but Woody managed to flee onto 3500 South and Redwood Road, at times driving into oncoming traffic.
Authorities called off the initial chase due to the immediate risk to the public, but soon after, officers reengaged when Woody’s tires were spiked again. A precision immobilization technique maneuver finally stopped the SUV, though Woody continued ramming police vehicles — damaging eight patrol cars before officers filled the cabin with pepper spray to force him out.
Officers report continued resistance after vehicle stop
When Woody realized the vehicle was no longer operable, he climbed out through a window and tried to run. Several officers chased him down, noting in reports that he continued to resist arrest before being taken into custody.
The incident adds to Woody’s long history of fleeing police. In 2019, he reached speeds over 100 mph during a chase on I-80, which ended only after a Wendover officer intentionally rammed his vehicle. Woody later served a prison sentence for that case and was on probation for a drug conviction earlier this year. Court records show a warrant had been issued for his arrest in July after he failed to comply with probation requirements.
Sentencing set for December
Woody is scheduled for sentencing on Dec. 29. Officials with the West Valley City Police Department say the case highlights the extreme risks officers face when fleeing suspects use vehicles as weapons.
