Gavel. Photo by Bill Oxford on Unsplash

LOGAN — A 36-year-old man has been arraigned on more charges, stemming from an April burglary that ended in a shootout with law enforcement in Paradise. Isaac Joel Washakie remains in the Utah State Prison for violating his parole after previously being convicted for several crimes, including drug possession and sexually abusing a child.

Washakie was arraigned Wednesday morning in 1st District Court, appearing by web conference from prison. He was charged 14 felonies including counts of first-degree aggravated burglary, second-degree theft and third-degree felony discharge of a firearm; plus four misdemeanors.

Wednesday’s new case is in addition to the four charges filed against Washakie previously, including two counts of disarming a police officer, a first-degree felony; and two count of assault by a prisoner, a third-degree felony.

Defense attorney Lorenzo Miller asked the court for more time to visit his client in prison. He said he hadn’t been able to discuss the new case yet with Washakie.

Judge Brian Cannell agreed to allow Miller more time to discuss the case with the suspect. He set another court date in August, to determine whether a preliminary hearing will be held.

Prosecutors claim, on April 19, Box Elder County law enforcement received a report of an individual pointing an “AR-15 style rifle” at another motorist from a white Cadillac. About 90 minutes later, Cache County Sheriff’s deputies received a report of an individual who entered a Wellsville home with the same type rifle, demanded keys to a vehicle and left in a Toyota minivan.

The affidavit states a deputy and a Utah Highway Patrol trooper spotted the minivan shortly after, traveling erratically and at a high rate of speed. They initiated a traffic stop, but Washakie refused to pull over.

As law enforcement continued their pursuit, the minivan ran a red light and was traveling around 100 mph. The chase went from Wellsville, through Nibley and Hyrum, ending near 9300 S. 300 East in Paradise.

“At that location, the defendant lunged out of the driver seat of the stolen vehicle holding a scoped AR-15 rifle,” the affidavit described. “A deputy from the Cache County Sheriff’s Office engaged the defendant, shooting him twice,” once in the hip and the second in the upper chest.

Washakie was treated by paramedics and taken to a hospital. Shortly thereafter, while being transported from the hospital back to the Utah State Prison, authorities reported the suspect had an altercation with Adult Probation and Parole agents and attempted to disarm them.

Later, a U.S. Forest Service employee reported a suspicious vehicle at the Murray Farms Trailhead. troopers found a white Cadillac matching the description of the vehicle involved in the Box Elder County incident. Officers reported bullet holes were located in the windshield and casings found inside the vehicle.

Days later, officers wrote, two kids found bags and two firearms left near the trailhead in Wellsville. Documents inside linked the bags to the vehicle, officers wrote, and both firearms had been stolen.

Washakie didn’t speak during Wednesday’s hearing. He could face up to life in prison, if convicted.

Individuals arrested and charged in complaints are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.


will@cvradio.com



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