SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — A North Salt Lake policeman assisting in a high speed car chase to capture a felon was critically injured early Monday when his car spun off the road.
Now the 30-year-old Charles Skinner, the father of newborn twins, is hospitalized in critical condition with severe head trauma. Police say Skinner's car hit a rain-soaked patch of road along U.S. Highway 89 at 2300 South in Bountiful, sending the vehicle spinning off the road and into a sign.
The 12-minute high-speed pursuit began when a Bountiful police officer found a man in a stolen car at 3:56 a.m. at a Smith's parking lot near 2400 South and Main Street in Bountiful, said Bountiful police Lt. Randy Pickett. The officer called for backup, but the driver inside the stolen car became spooked by the gathering officers and took off, Pickett said.
The officers then chased the driver through Bountiful as he got on and off of Interstate 15, Pickett said. Officers from Woods Cross, West Bountiful and North Salt Lake – including Skinner – were called to join the chase as the suspect began driving southbound on Highway 89.
Then, around 2300 South and Highway 89, Skinner lost control of his vehicle and spun into a business sign, Pickett said. Skinner was traveling about 70 mph right before the crash occurred, said Pickett, who could not immediately provide the top speeds reached during the chase.
The chase continued after Skinner's crash as the driver merged back onto I-15 toward Salt Lake City.
The driver tried to exit I-15 at 900 West, but he rolled the stolen car and suffered minor injuries, Pickett said. He was taken by ambulance to the University of Utah Hospital.
Pickett said the driver, identified as 30-year-old William Fisher of Salt Lake City, had three felony warrants out for his arrest – two for receiving and possessing stolen property, and one for receiving and transferring a stolen vehicle.
Fisher will be turned over to the Department of Corrections to be held on his parole violation when he is released from the hospital, Pickett said. New charges from the early morning chase had not yet been screened by prosecutors Monday.
Police agencies have varying policies on when to initiate a chase.
Salt Lake County police departments allow their officers to chase fleeing motorists only if they are wanted for a violent felony, such as murder, robbery or aggravated assault. North Salt Lake police do not have such a policy and have a standing agreement to assist neighboring agencies, said North Salt Lake Sgt. Mitch Gwilliam.
Skinner has worked in the North Salt Lake Police Department for the past year and previously worked for the Salt Lake City Police Department, said Gwilliam.
Skinner family responds
The family of officer Charles Skinner released a statement Monday expressing their appreciation for the "love, support and concern offered by the law enforcement community as well as the citizens of the community."
Skinner's family said they are "eager for him to make a full recovery," and asked people to "keep Charlie in your thoughts and prayers."
An account in Skinner's name has been set up at Zion's Bank branches.