ST. GEORGE — A 21-year-old man, previously apprehended after a pursuit and subsequent collision on Interstate 15 in Washington County, now faces federal indictment following allegations of possession of a machine gun, according to authorities.
2023 stock image of the outside of U.S. District Court in St. George, Utah, July 25, 2023 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
As previously reported, Donovan Jared Grandberry was arrested following a pursuit that began shortly before 3 p.m. on Feb. 6 when an alert went out to be on the lookout for what was reported as a reckless driver in a gray Audi with a Nevada license plate that was heading north along I-15.
A Utah Highway Patrol trooper, who was stopped in the median, spotted the vehicle passing by at more than 95 mph near mile marker 28 near Toquerville, the police report states.
The vehicle reportedly matched the description that was called into the St. George Consolidated Communications Center. The trooper activated his emergency lights and siren as he pulled out and pulled up behind the car to conduct a traffic stop.
Instead of pulling over, the Audi driver continued north in excess of 120 mph while traveling in and out of the lanes and then exited the interstate without stopping at the stop sign, the report states. Weather conditions prompted the trooper to terminate the pursuit after he lost sight of the fleeing driver.
Minutes later, the trooper heard over the radio that an Audi crashed in the median of the interstate near milepost 49, just north of Kanarraville. Officers responded to the scene and the suspect was taken into custody.
During a search of the car, officers recovered several guns and suspected marijuana. The driver was identified as Grandberry; a records check indicated he was driving on a revoked license out of Nevada and was listed as a convicted felon, which prohibited him from possessing any firearms.
Grandberry was booked into jail facing multiple charges, including felony evading and two third-degree felony counts of possession of a firearm by a restricted person.
Stock image of Purgatory Correctional Facility in Washington County, Utah | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News
He was also charged with reckless driving, driving on a revoked license, speeding — 100 mph or more — and possession of marijuana. He appeared for a bail reduction hearing on Tuesday and remained in custody in Washington County without bail.
On Tuesday afternoon after the hearing in 5th District Court, Grandberry was indicted on one count of possession of a machine gun.
The federal charge was filed after officers recovered a Glock .40-caliber semi-automatic handgun with a machine gun conversion device when the Audi was searched during February’s incident.
Grandberry is scheduled to appear before Magistrate Judge Paul Kohler for an initial appearance in the U.S. District Court in St. George on Monday. He remains on a federal hold in Washington County at this time.
This report is based on statements from court records, police or other responders and may not contain the full scope of findings. Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.
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