Law enforcement officers are scratching their heads after a
series of erratic events Monday landed a 28-year-old Logan man in
jail.
According to Lt. Lee Perry of the Utah Highway Patrol, Erik Thalman
of Logan was involved in a single-car rollover accident near Third
Dam in Logan Canyon at about 10 a.m. Monday.
Witnesses told troopers the driver of a white Jeep was northbound
on U.S. Highway 89 when he suddenly made a U-turn and started
heading back down the canyon toward Logan. A short time later, the
Jeep was found on its top near Spring Hollow, said Perry.
“He told a witness that ‘Someone needs to be called to clean up the
mess,’ and he walked away,” said Perry.
A Rich County deputy in the area found Thalman about a half-mile
away from the scene of the accident.
Perry said Thalman’s injuries were minor, and he was transported by
ambulance to Cache Specialty Hospital.
Because of the crash, Perry said Thalman will most likely be cited
for leaving the scene of an accident and improper lane travel and
perhaps for failure to maintain control of a vehicle on a mountain
road.
Troopers investigating the accident checked Thalman out and
reported there was no indication of drug or alcohol impairment on
him or in the vehicle, said Perry.
However, a short time later, dispatchers received a call from
someone at the Cache Valley Specialty Hospital reporting that
Thalman “ripped out” his IV and left the hospital against medical
advice.
Officers at the scene of the crash contacted family members in
North Logan and Logan in an attempt to locate Thalman and check on
his medical welfare.
However, just before noon, a young woman called police after
Thalman entered a North Logan apartment where she was
house-sitting. North Park Police Chief Kim Hawkes said the woman
locked herself in an upstairs bathroom and called police, while
Thalman banged on the door and threatened to “throw her out with
his bare hands.”
Hawkes said the renter of the apartment, a former girlfriend, was
out of the country.
Officers from the Utah Highway Patrol, Cache County and North Park
were on the scene when Thalman was arrested at about noon.
According to Hawkes, he was booked into the Cache County Jail on
suspicion of criminal trespassing and disorderly conduct.
Hawkes said this is the second time in a matter of days that a
welfare check has been requested on behalf of Thalman. Police were
called Saturday night after an individual reported receiving an
email from Thalman that said “help me.” However, when he was found
that night, Thalman told police that email was just a joke.
While en route to the hospital, police say Thalman exhibited abrupt
mood swings and did so again on the way to the jail. His mental
condition will be evaluated, said Hawkes.
—
amacavinta@hjnews.com
Twitter: @amacavinta
© 2011 The Herald Journal. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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