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Suspect Arrested For Drive-Through Lane Confrontation, And Other Charges

A Park City man has been arrested after allegedly aiming his SUV at a woman and pinning her against her own vehicle, during a confrontation in the drive-through lane at the Kimball Junction MacDonald’s.

The suspect is facing more troubles with the law, including charges of ripping off the auto-rental agency where he once worked; and violating a plea agreement with Third District Court, related there to criminal charges going back three years.   

Charges of Aggravated Assault, DUI, Reckless Driving and Failure to Stop at an Injury Accident have been filed against 51-year-old Sean Patrick Dalton.     The Summit County Attorney’s Office has also asked for a No Bail Warrant and Pretrial Detention for the defendant.

Charging documents say that last Tuesday, Dec. 29th, shortly before 10 p.m., a woman was entering the MacDonald’s drive-through when a man in a white SUV tried to jump into the lane ahead of her.    When she honked at him, he drove the front end of his vehicle into hers.

When the woman got out to talk to the SUV driver, identified as Dalton, he drove at her, pinned her against her own vehicle and kept accelerating.   Several witnesses yelled at Dalton and he backed up and fled the scene.

One witness grabbed at the suspect’s license plate, causing it to bend.     The witness followed in his own vehicle.   The criminal information says that Dalton drove on and off the freeway several times to lose the witness.

The witness ultimately located Dalton’s vehicle at the parking lot of the Best Western.   Officers saw Dalton’s vehicle had the bent license plate and found handprints on the dust of the hood from the victim.   (She was treated by medical personnel after the incident.)

Officers also reported that Dalton’s breath smelled of alcohol, and  he had poor balance.     He refused tests for field sobriety and breath-alcohol, but a warrant was obtained to take a blood draw.

Dalton was arrested, nearly a week before.  In a separate case, he  faces charges of Theft and Communications Fraud.

The criminal information says that over the past year, while working for the Hertz Rental business in Park City, Dalton rented vehicles to customers in return for cash payments made to his own personal accounts.  

Charging documents allege that Dalton made rentals to six customers for a total of $4260. 

Hertz told officers that Dalton had rented out 35 vehicles with no official contracts.  Twenty-one of the vehicles have been recovered by Hertz all over the United States.    Fourteen haven’t been recovered, as of the day Dalton was arrested, Wednesday the 23rd.

On that day, a Park City Police officer was conducting surveillance on the residence of Dalton’s wife, in the Basin.     The officer saw Dalton exit and drive off in a Land Rover, identified as one of the stolen vehicles.  

Dalton was detained and taken to the Summit County Jail, but subsequently was released.

He had been fired by Hertz on November 23rd.    

As if happens, on that same date, Dalton entered into a Plea of Abeyance Agreement in Third District Court.   He pled Guilty to a Theft of Services charge, after being arrested in late 2017 for unlawfully using a credit card.  Under that Plea Agreement, he had to maintain good behavior and have no further violations of the law for two years.  

The county has requested the No Bail Warrant for Dalton, arguing that there is clear evidence he presents a substantial danger to the safety of the public.

On Monday, Jan. 4th, Dalton has an Evidentiary Hearing in Third District Court on the MacDonald’s incident.    

He will also appear in court January 25th on an Order to Show Cause hearing, where the judge could set aside his previous Plea deal from November and impose a prison sentence.

Known for getting all the facts right, as well as his distinctive sign-off, Rick covered Summit County meetings and issues for 35 years on KPCW. He now heads the Friday Film Review team.
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