Man gets into high-speed chase with police after stealing pizza, breadsticks
INQUIRER.net Stock Photo
A man who stole pizza and breadsticks at a restaurant in Utah, USA, ended up engaging police in a high-speed chase in the city of Orem.
Richard Pratt Heilbut, 30, on March 24 ordered food at a Little Ceasars Pizza branch, but got angry because the line was apparently long, as per CBS affiliate KUTV earlier today, March 27.
The store was reportedly very busy as the line had reached outside the door. An impatient Heilbut then entered the establishment and grabbed two pepperoni pizzas and breadsticks and told staff: “I’m helping myself.”
The manager then confronted Heilbut outside while the cashier dialed 911 as she locked herself inside the bathroom, the report said.
Heilbut was heard shouting expletives at the manager and threatened that he would slit her throat, even saying, “I will find you and watch you.”
He immediately fled the scene after the manager mentioned “police,” according to the report. Heilbut, who also screamed at customers at the parking lot, was seen driving away in a 2016 silver Chevrolet Malibu.
A police officer eventually spotted Heilbut driving at the high speed of around 70 miles per hour. Heilbut reportedly sped through into a parking lot and managed to evade the officer.
Another officer spotted Heilbut as he sped in his car and giving police the middle finger. Police eventually stopped chasing Heilbut as he drove at a very high speed, making the chase dangerous for others if continued.
A few hours after the chase, around the wee hours of Thursday, March 25, Heilbut was spotted again inside his car and was shortly apprehended. Police found methamphetamine and a glass pipe that tested positive for meth residue in the vehicle.
On why he committed multiple crimes, Heilbut told police that he wanted to get arrested because he was not happy about how police treated him a week or two before over an incident with his parents, the report said.
“[Heilbut’s parents] had advised officers that they do not feel safe staying in [their] house due to their son suffering from mental illnesses,” police were quoted as saying.
“[The father] told officers that his son is suffering from [drug-induced] psychosis, mental psychosis, or a combination of both. [The father] told officers that he does not want his son staying at his house,” they added.
Heilbut is now facing multiple charges including robbery (second-degree felony); felony commercial obstruction (second-degree felony); failure to stop at the command of police (third-degree felony); possession of a controlled substance (class A misdemeanor); and threat of violence (class B misdemeanor), among others. Ian Biong /ra
RELATED STORIES:
Mom donning boxing glove goes to daughter’s school, fights student
6-year-old boy arrested for picking flower at bus stop
