Trooper's Report (some info redacted due to the children):
In the evening hours of July 10th, 2023, I, Trooper First Class (TFC) Darryle Hinton, was traveling southbound on State
Highway 365, just south of the Grant/Jefferson County line. While traveling, I observed a green Chevrolet Camaro appearing to
be traveling greater than the posted speed limit of 55 miles per hour. I then activated my front, opposite direction radar, and
clocked the vehicle traveling 89 miles per hour. I then conducted a three-point turn to turn around and pull the vehicle over.
While making the turn, the vehicle accelerated and began traveling faster to avoid me. I activated my emergency lights and
siren and gave chase.
The suspect vehicle began to drive extremely reckless, passing cars on the left and right shoulder. The suspect vehicle then
took the Woodson Lateral Exit (Exit 12), traveled through the intersection, running the stop sign, and traveled onto the entrance
ramp to re-enter Interstate 530 northbound. While the suspect vehicle re-entered the Interstate, the operator of the vehicle,
later identified as Laronne Gray, threw a handgun out of the driver’s side window. The gun came to rest on the left side of the
entrance ramp in a puddle of water. The suspect vehicle continued traveling northbound, reaching speeds of 151 miles an
hour. The suspect vehicle then took the Bingham Road Exit (Exit 9), before running the stop sign once more, nearly causing a
collision at the intersection. Speeds were still reaching in excess of 151 miles an hour, and the operator of the vehicle was still driving extremely recklessly passing cars on the left and right shoulder.
While still fleeing, I positioned my vehicle to perform a Tactical Vehicle Intervention (T.V.I.), but the vehicle began to slow and
started easing over to the left shoulder. Before the vehicle came to a stop, I was still able to perform a T.V.I., placing my front
left bumper to the right rear bumper of the suspect vehicle. This action caused the vehicle to rotate clockwise, causing the front of the vehicle to now face south. After the T.V.I., we came to a final rest partially in the inside shoulder and partially in the far-
left lane. With the vehicle stopped, I began giving verbal commands. Mr. Gray rolled down the window, with his hands raised.
Before climbing out of the vehicle, Mr. Gray lowered his hands, then re-emerging them showing me a young child in the front
passenger seat. Mr. Gray climbed out the window and was arrested without further incident.
With Mr. Gray in custody and placed in my patrol unit, I immediately went to tend to the child. To my surprise there was an
additional young child in the back right passenger seat. Trooper (TRP) Ana Escamilla arrived on scene and assisted me with
securing the children. Mr. Gray is the father of both children.
A strong odor of marijuana was coming from the vehicle. While searching the vehicle, 157 grams of individually packaged clear
plastic baggies were in Mr. Gray’s backpack with his clothes inside. Trooper Joe Anderson was able to locate a Glock 17 9mm
handgun submerged in water in the same place I previously described. The Glock also
contained an illegal “Switch”, converting the firearm, when activated, to a semi-automatic pistol.
Mr. Gray was transported back to Jefferson County to be booked into the Jefferson County Detention Center. On the way
back, Mr. Gray was read his Miranda Warnings, and he verbally acknowledged that he understood them. Mr. Gray admitted
that the marijuana in the vehicle was his, but initially denied having the gun. Mr. Gray was brought to Troop E headquarters for
further questioning before going to jail. While at Troop E headquarters, Mr. Gray finally admitted that the gun was in the
vehicle, but it was not his, and that was one of the reasons why he began to flee.
CHARGES:
Endangering the Welfare of a Minor (x2 counts)
Fleeing – Felony,
Simultaneous Possession of Drugs and Firearms,
Criminal Use of Prohibited Weapons,
Speeding – More than 15 MPH Over Limit,
Improper Passing on Left,
Improper Passing on Right, and
Fail to Obey Stop Sign.
