At approximately 1517 on 16 March 2018 the Moab City Police Department was notified by a detective with Colorado’s Greeley Police Department that two subjects wanted for armed home invasion and aggravated motor vehicle theft were believed to be at the Days Inn at 426 N. Main St. in downtown Moab.
Officers were able to verify with hotel staff that both subjects, Michael A. Vieyra, DOB 09/04/1992, and Katherine Cathey, DOB 11/12/1982, were inside the hotel. Michael and Katherine arrived in a white GMC pickup that officers were able to determine had been stolen out of Montrose, CO on 15 March 2018. Officers established and maintained surveillance throughout the evening and into the morning of 17 March 2018. At approximately 0900 officers evacuated hotel guests and staff in an effort to ensure their safety as law enforcement planned for contact with Michael and Katherine.
Shortly after the evacuation was completed Michael exited the hotel room and was immediately confronted by officers who had been assigned to maintain security on the room. He retreated into the room and attempted to barricade the door. Officers breached the door and pursued Michael as he fled through the hotel window on foot. Katherine was contacted by officers inside the room and was detained without further incident.
Michael ran through the parking lot, jumped a fence and unsuccessfully attempted to enter a parked vehicle in an adjacent lot. He then entered a second parked vehicle and hid until a citizen-directed officer to him. Officers approached the vehicle, extracted Michael and took him into custody without further incident. Both suspects are incarcerated at the Grand County Jail.
This incident was managed by the Moab City Police Department with significant assistance from the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office, Grand County Sheriff’s Office and Utah Highway Patrol.
MOAB CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT PRESS RELEASE