By Travis Uresk
6/18/24
| Maeser, Ut. | June 12th, 2024 |
The Utah Highway Patrol was dispatched to a hit-and-run accident on SR-121 and 2000 West in front of Uintah High School. The trooper was advised that the victim was following the suspect's vehicle, which had stopped at 1552 West 500 South.
Trooper Ryan arrived and spoke with the victim, who briefly described the situation. The victim completed a witness statement which reads:
"I was headed eastbound in front of the high school, and the other driver got into the lane to the left of me (turning lane) and acted like he was trying to go straight, then he hit my mirror while my arm was out the window and quickly turned into the high school."
"I pulled into the high school to exchange info, but the other driver immediately turned around and sped off, at that point, I dialed 911 and gave his info to the operator. I followed him to his house when he exited his vehicle and said he was sorry. I let him know the officers were on the way, and I didn't want to fight with him. The other driver proceeded to walk towards his house out of my view."
Trooper Ryan read the statement and asked what mirror was hit. The victim stated the other driver’s mirror hit his mirror, and it didn’t appear that his vehicle didn’t have any other damage.
The victim pointed out the red truck parked in the driveway and identified it as the suspect truck. Trooper Ryan performed a records check on the truck and found it belonged to 59-year-old Jimmy Alden Bristol.
The trooper asked the victim how close he got to the other driver and if he could identify him by a photo. He stated he was approximately 10-20 feet away. He stated the driver was an older gentleman with gray hair. A records check of Jimmy, with a date of birth of 4/9/1965, found a driver's license photo on the trooper's computer, and he showed it to the victim. He stated that he was the driver, 1000%.
Trooper Ryan approached the red truck and saw the passenger side mirror folded in slightly with a black scuff mark near the top. Scattered throughout the front yard were several empty and crushed beer cans. The trooper approached the house with the other Vernal City police officers and knocked on the door multiple times. They announced themselves as police officers multiple times, and the door was never answered. Trooper Ryan left a business card with his name on it.
The victim was told everything that happened would be documented, and the trooper would follow up with Jimmy.
On June 14th, Trooper Ryan was preparing to go to Jimmy's residence for a follow-up. He performed another records check, which revealed that he had a statewide warrant.
Sgt. Carson and Trooper Ryan approached the house and knocked on the door. They could hear someone inside through an open window and what sounded like a movie playing.
After several knocks on the door and announcing themselves as the police, a male voice from the open window told them to enter. Trooper Ryan asked the male to come outside, and after a few minutes, the front door was opened by a male matching the photo description on the trooper's computer. During this conversation, the officers could smell the strong odor of alcohol emitting from his breath.
Trooper Ryan asked Jimmy what he was doing two days prior. He stated he was at the house. The trooper asked if he drove anywhere, and he stated no. The trooper asked him if he went anywhere in the truck, and he stated no. Sgt. Carson asked him how a witness would have placed him driving his vehicle near the high school, and he stated he didn't know. A PBT was administered to Jimmy, and it showed a positive reading of .258 BrAC.
Utah Code 41-6A-401 states: (2)(a) The operator of a vehicle with knowledge that the operator was involved in, or who has reason to believe that the operator may have been involved in, an accident resulting only in damage to another vehicle or other property:
(i) may move the vehicle as soon as possible:
(A) out of the travel lanes on any roadway to an adjacent shoulder, the nearest suitable cross street, or other suitable location that does not obstruct traffic or
(B) off the freeway main lines, shoulders, medians, or adjacent areas to the nearest safe location on an exit ramp shoulder, a frontage road, the nearest suitable cross street, or other suitable location that does not obstruct traffic; and
(ii) shall remain at the scene of the accident or the location described in Subsection (2)(a)(i) until the operator has fulfilled the requirements of this section.
Jimmy Bristol did not comply with the requirements of this section because he did not remain on the scene. He traveled to a home in Vernal that the victim followed him to. Jimmy had reason to believe he was involved in an accident because he told the victim he was sorry, and the victim told him the police had been notified. The victim was able to positively identify the driver as Jimmy.
Jimmy was arrested and taken to the hospital for a medical clearance. Jimmy started making suicidal comments by saying, "I don't want to live," and he would have taken his life two weeks ago if he could have.
Trooper Ryan had to leave the room for just a minute, and when he returned, the nurses stated he was punching himself in the head. The trooper asked why he was doing that, but he never gave a straight answer.
The trooper stepped out of the room to make a call but could still clearly see Jimmy when I observed him strike himself in the head with his right hand. Another PBT was administered to Jimmy, showing a reading of .289.
The hospital released Jimmy with a medical clearance, and he was transported to jail. While at the jail, he again made suicidal comments to the jail staff and jail nurse. The jail nurse asked him questions about his alcohol consumption, and he stated he only feels this way while drinking. He said that he is old and has already lived his life. The jail staff placed him on suicide watch.
Trooper Ryan, the arresting officer, the undersigned magistrate, finds that probable cause existed for the arrest without a warrant of Jimmy Alden Bristol. Jimmy may post bail in the amount of $640.00
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