A man is facing charges in Vernal’s 8th District Court after evading police. According to the Affidavit of Probable Cause, 69-year-old Martin Welch Cozzens was traveling in a Bronco westbound on Highway 40 through Naples when an officer initiated a traffic stop due to speeding. Rather than pull over, Cozzens sped through Vernal City on Highway 40 traveling up to 90 miles per hour and then over 100 miles per hour traveling towards Roosevelt. Several spike strip attempts failed and the Bronco traveled through Roosevelt and onto Hillcrest Drive. The officer terminated the pursuit after failing to locate the Bronco at that point. Soon after, the Bronco was seen heading back eastbound on Highway 40 before stopping on the side of the road near McCoy Flats. Cozzens was detained and when asked why he didn’t pull over he stated that he had somewhere to be and then that he just wanted to see if the police could keep up with him. Cozzens resisted arrest. Eventually he was transported to the hospital for a blood draw. At the hospital sobriety testing was performed. Cozzens was booked into Uintah County Jail on the charges of Evading, DUI, Reckless Driving, and Resisting the Arresting Officer.
