SANTAQUIN, Utah (TCD) — A 42-year-old man is facing multiple criminal charges for allegedly holding a woman against her will in his truck and killing a police officer during a traffic stop.
Spanish Fork Police Lt. Cory Slaymaker said in a press conference the series of incidents occurred in the early morning hours of May 5 when someone called 911 to report someone standing on the back of a northbound semitrailer on the highway.
A Utah Highway Patrol trooper and Santaquin Police Department officer conducted a traffic stop, but the driver, Michael Jayne, sped away. Then, the vehicle turned around and reportedly began heading down the wrong side of the road toward the law enforcement officers. Slaymaker said Jayne drove into Santaquin Police Sgt. Bill Hooser, killing him. Both Hooser and the trooper’s vehicles were hit as well.
Following the fatal crash, Jayne fled on foot and allegedly stole a Ford F-150, which he later crashed. He was arrested that day.
According to the affidavit cited by KSL-TV, Jayne was “uncooperative and would not answer questions from the officers” when they stopped him on the highway. They reportedly “made several attempts to reassure Jayne of the reason for the stop and that he was not in any trouble with them. They told Jayne they were there trying to help.”
During the traffic stop, a woman reportedly jumped out of the truck bed and went to the officers with her hands up. She spoke with Hooser, who then reportedly told the trooper Jayne should be detained. However, Jayne drove off before that could happen.
KSL reports the woman told police she had been driving with Jayne and willingly got into his car at first. Then, they reportedly got into an argument at a truck stop and she did not want to get back in. KSL reports Jayne allegedly threatened the woman “with chemical bear spray and a knife,” so she followed his orders.
Jayne reportedly has “an extensive criminal history.”
On Tuesday, May 14, Utah County District Attorney Jeff Gray announced his office is charging Jayne with aggravated murder, two counts of attempted aggravated murder, one count of aggravated kidnapping, one count of burglary, three counts of automobile theft, and one count of failing to obey the lawful command of police to stop.
Gray said the aggravated murder charge is a capital offense, which means he has the option of seeking the death penalty for Jayne.
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