Couple arrested after stealing car, fleeing into a bitter cold night

A man and woman are sitting in San Juan County jail after stealing a car in Monticello, crashing it near Recapture Reservoir, disappearing into a bitter cold night, and eventually being arrested.
Kyle Alexander Rooks, age 29, and Cherie Breeann Hogan, age 34, face a dozen charges between them, including a host of felony charges.
On the evening of January 21, law enforcement officials stopped a vehicle from California in the Family Dollar parking lot in Monticello on suspicion that the female in the car was being held against her will. A search of the vehicle found open containers of alcohol and drug paraphernalia, but in the meantime, the couple escaped out of the back of the store. It is alleged that they eventually stole an idling Ford F-150 truck that was sitting in front of a nearby home.
About 15 minutes later, a law enforcement official spotted the stolen car heading south on Highway 191 near Devils Canyon. When the officer turned on his emergency lights, the vehicle fled at speeds exceeding 117 miles an hour, passing vehicles on a double yellow line and going into oncoming traffic.
The vehicle turned off the highway onto Old Recapture Road and headed toward Recapture Reservoir, where it was damaged and abandoned after running into a ditch. The occupants disappeared into the night.
A significant search effort began, eventually involving a helicopter and drones and a large number of law enforcement officials.
The San Juan County Sheriffs office made a social media post and a number of reverse 911 calls to notify area residents to watch out for the two individuals and avoid picking up hitchhikers.
Officials were unable to locate the couple and eventually abandoned the effort after several hours while the temperature dropped to 11 degrees.
About 8 a.m. on the following morning, a law enforcement official from Blanding traveled up the Bulldog Canyon road near Recapture Reservoir and found the couple.
“By then, they were so cold that they were not interested in running,” said Sergeant Charlie Taylor, of the Utah Highway Patrol. Taylor said that the couple was not dressed for the cold conditions and may have started a fire in an attempt to stay warm.
They were arrested and booked into San Juan County jail, where they are being held without bail. Charges are pending.

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