Authorities identify man arrested after chase on westbound I-10 in West Valley

The U.S. Marshals Service task force arrested a man Wednesday after law enforcement officers chased his vehicle for nearly 50 miles on westbound Interstate 10 through the Phoenix area and into the West Valley.

Scott Rasmussen, 51, is accused of being a fugitive wanted by the U.S. Marshals Service for violating the terms of his federal probation, according to U.S. Marshals Service spokesperson Colleen Grayman.

Task force members were conducting surveillance in east Mesa when they saw Rasmussen get into a white SUV, Grayman said. He failed to yield after task force members tried to conduct a traffic stop on the Loop 202 in Mesa at about 11:20 a.m. Wednesday.

Rasmussen got on Interstate 10 heading west, and the chase went on for nearly 50 miles. The Arizona Department of Public Safety assisted with the arrest near the Verrado Way exit on the I-10, Grayman said.

ADOT video camera footage showed at least a dozen police vehicles following the SUV. The Associated Press reported authorities later used stop sticks to slow the SUV, and TV broadcasts showed the car appearing to drive on more than one rim after tires came off the vehicle.

Footage showed the chase coming to an end at about 12:30 p.m., as law enforcement vehicles performed a maneuver to stop the vehicle. Several officers could be seen approaching the SUV with guns drawn to assist in taking the man into custody.

A handgun appeared to be taken from the man by a law enforcement officer at the time of the arrest. U.S. Marshals Service officials were not able to confirm Rasmussen was armed during the chase or provide any details on his probation violations.

Rasmussen was placed on federal supervised release after being charged for fraud by wire in 2004, Grayman said. A warrant was issued for his arrest after he violated the terms of his release.

Rasmussen is also wanted on charges of forgery and theft by deception in Harrisburg, Utah, Grayman said.