Justice - The Salt Lake Tribune

Alleged cop-killer Matthew Stewart hangs himself in jail cell

Fri, 24 May 2013 09:42:03 MDT

Alleged cop-killer Matthew Stewart hangs himself in jail cell

by Jessica Miller And Bob Mims The Salt Lake Tribune

Published May 24, 2013 09:42AM MDT

Ogden • Matthew David Stewart, awaiting trial in the slaying of a police officer during a botched 2012 drug raid that ended in a shootout, died late Thursday night after apparently hanging himself in his jail cell. Erna Stewart, Stewart’s sister-in-law, said Stewart’s parents were informed of the death by Weber County Sheriff’s authorities Friday morning. On Wednesday, Stewart, 39, had experienced a courtroom defeat when a judge rejected defense attorneys’ arguments that a police officer lied to...

Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Steve Powell: Feds may be to blame for son’s suicide

Fri, 24 May 2013 08:37:31 MDT

Steve Powell: Feds may be to blame for son’s suicide

by Brooke Adams The Salt Lake Tribune

Published May 24, 2013 08:37AM MDT

A day after learning his son Michael had committed suicide, Steve Powell wrote a lengthy letter to a daughter reiterating his belief that federal agents planned assaults on the family that may have included slipping Michael psychotropic drugs. “As with some of the other threats, it appears that they made good on this one,” Powell wrote in the Feb. 12 letter to his daughter Alina. “I am quite sure that [name redacted] had no intention to kill Michael, but Michael’s suicide, evidently in reaction...

Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Two dead in RV crash on southern Utah’s I-15

Fri, 24 May 2013 08:37:19 MDT

Two dead in RV crash on southern Utah’s I-15

by Bob Mims The Salt Lake Tribune

Published May 24, 2013 08:37AM MDT

In a deadly start to Utah’s Memorial Day weekend, two people were killed and eight injured when their motor home crashed through a fence line and into a residential area off Interstate 15 in southern Utah. Utah Highway Patrol Cpl. Todd Johnson said troopers were just beginning to investigate the crash and did not know why the motor home veered off the right side of southbound I-15 about 7 miles north of the Utah-Arizona state line about 5:50 a.m. Friday. The RV next plowed through a fence and th...

Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Suspected suicide: Bridal Veil Falls fatality identified

Fri, 24 May 2013 06:26:03 MDT

Suspected suicide: Bridal Veil Falls fatality identified

by Bob Mims The Salt Lake Tribune

Published May 24, 2013 06:26AM MDT

Investigators say it appears a Utah County man’s fatal 200-foot earlier this week from the Bridal Veil Falls trail was a suicide. Utah County Sheriff’s Sgt. Spencer Cannon said trauma from the fall stymied initial efforts to identify the victim, but following an autopsy the deceased was determined to have been Kelly Lloyd Anderberg, 49. Sheriff’s deputies found Anderberg at the bottom of the popular Provo Canyon recreation site about 8 p.m. Wednesday. remims@sltrib.com Twitter: @remims

Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Preliminary hearing set for Utah man accused of killing girl, 6

Thu, 23 May 2013 21:40:35 MDT

Preliminary hearing set for Utah man accused of killing girl, 6

by Marissa Lang The Salt Lake Tribune

Published May 23, 2013 09:40PM MDT

West Jordan » More than a year after the body of 6-year-old Sierra Newbold was found in a West Jordan canal, prosecutors will present evidence in court against the man accused of raping and killing the little girl. Terry Lee Black, 41, was ordered to appear in 3rd District Court for a preliminary hearing on July 29. Prosecutors anticipate at least three full days of testimony from witnesses and experts that will include DNA and crime scene analysis. Black is charged with aggravated murder, chil...

Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Blood found on teen arrested in deaths of 2 adopted brothers

Thu, 23 May 2013 21:40:35 MDT

Blood found on teen arrested in deaths of 2 adopted brothers

by Janelle Stecklein and Bob Mims The Salt Lake Tribune

Published May 23, 2013 09:40PM MDT

West Point • A 15-year-old boy arrested after his adopted younger brothers were found stabbed to death in his family’s West Point home had traces of blood on him when he was found later by police. Davis County Sheriff Todd Richardson said during a Thursday afternoon press conference that the blood linked the teen to the crime scene. No weapons were found on the suspect, but two knives believed to be the murder weapons were recovered at the home. Richardson said the teen was cooperating with inv...

Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Family of slain man sues Utah sheriff after officer shooting

Thu, 23 May 2013 21:36:49 MDT

Family of slain man sues Utah sheriff after officer shooting

by Kimball Bennion The Salt Lake Tribune

Published May 23, 2013 09:36PM MDT

The family of a Sandy man who was shot and killed by a Box Elder County deputy in 2012 is suing the officer and the sheriff’s office for negligence, willful misconduct and wrongful death. A complaint filed Thursday in U.S. District Court alleges that Deputy Austin Bowcutt failed to follow policies that govern automobile chases and use of deadly force when he shot and killed Troy Burkinshaw, 52, after a low-speed pursuit in Box Elder County. The family’s attorney, Jim McConkie, said Thursday th...

Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

West Valley City police respond to junior high food fight

Thu, 23 May 2013 18:56:32 MDT

West Valley City police respond to junior high food fight

by Janelle Stecklein The Salt Lake Tribune

Published May 23, 2013 06:56PM MDT

Flying French fries and other items filled the air Thursday afternoon after a couple hundred Granite School District junior high students decided to launch a spontaneous all-out food fight. Ultimately, the West Valley City police were called to help restore order. Granite School District spokesman Ben Horsley said the incident started about 12:30 p.m. at West Lake Junior High School when two youths got into a physical altercation. For unknown reasons, it escalated into a larger food fight, he s...

Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Police raid live sex show in Syracuse, arrest six

Thu, 23 May 2013 18:02:07 MDT

Police raid live sex show in Syracuse, arrest six

by Bob Mims The Salt Lake Tribune

Published May 23, 2013 06:02PM MDT

It started with a tip from a confidential informant. Before Syracuse police were done, half a dozen people were behind bars for promoting, participating in and watching an illegal live sex show. Syracuse Police Chief Garret Atkin said the tip came into his detectives on Wednesday, stating that the illicit event was planned for just after midnight inside the Syracuse 6 Movie Theater at 2428 West 1700 South. A search warrant was obtained and early Thursday morning Syracuse officers, members of th...

Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Susan Powell’s marriage worse than thought, documents show (video)

Thu, 23 May 2013 17:58:55 MDT

Susan Powell’s marriage worse than thought, documents show (video)

by Nate Carlisle The Salt Lake Tribune

Published May 23, 2013 05:58PM MDT

Josh and Susan Powell’s marriage may have been even worse than most thought. Documents released this week by West Valley City police include evidence Josh Powell was cheating on his wife and gambling. They talk about Susan Powell having a “girl’s night out,” and imply it was to liberate herself from Josh’s control. “They had arguments every once in awhile and they had assaulted each other in the past,” reads one statement in a police report. It’s attributed to Terrica Powell, Josh’s mother. But...

Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Tooele man remains critical following fire that destroyed home

Thu, 23 May 2013 17:31:07 MDT

Tooele man remains critical following fire that destroyed home

by Bob Mims The Salt Lake Tribune

Published May 23, 2013 05:31PM MDT

A Tooele man remained in critical condition Thursday, the day after being rescued by firefighters from his burning home. The condition of Joshua Draper, 25, was unchanged from when he was flown by helicopter to Intermountain Medical Center in Murray Wednesday morning, said hospital spokesman Jess Gomez. Draper was found unconscious in the smoke-filled home on Tooele’s Isgreen Circle about 4 a.m. Tooele County Emergency Management spokesman Wade Mathews said the investigation into the cause of t...

Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Man dies after one-ton bag falls on him

Thu, 23 May 2013 17:03:02 MDT

Man dies after one-ton bag falls on him

by Michael Mcfall The Salt Lake Tribune

Published May 23, 2013 05:03PM MDT

A 28-year-old man died Wednesday after a one-ton bag fell on top of him. The manager of Mountain Peaks Vinyl clocked in Wednesday morning and while walking around the company site at 1878 S. Redwood Road, saw a pair of legs sticking out from under the bag, said Salt Lake City Fire Department spokesman Jasen Asay. He called 911. When firefighters arrived, they cut into the bag — which was full of shredded plastic — and shoveled the material away to relieve pressure on the man, who works at the c...

Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Utah man sentenced to prison for sexual assaulting minor he met online

Thu, 23 May 2013 14:19:03 MDT

Utah man sentenced to prison for sexual assaulting minor he met online

by Jessica Miller The Salt Lake Tribune

Published May 23, 2013 02:19PM MDT

A 27-year-old Cedar City man was sentenced to prison Wednesday for raping a minor he met on a social media website. Andrew Anthony Lue pleaded guilty to forcible sexual abuse, enticing a minor and sexual exploitation of a minor, all second-degree felonies, as well third-degree felony of dealing in harmful material to a minor. On Wednesday, 5th District Judge Michael Westfall ordered the man to spend one to 15 years in prison for each of the second-degree felony and up to five years in prison fo...

Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Man who beat Layton police officer into unconsciousness going to prison

Thu, 23 May 2013 13:40:04 MDT

Man who beat Layton police officer into unconsciousness going to prison

by Jessica Miller The Salt Lake Tribune

Published May 23, 2013 01:40PM MDT

Farmington • Layton police Sgt. Brady Fitzpatrick always knew there may be a time when someone would try to hurt or kill him for the sole reason that he was wearing a police badge and uniform. That day came on Aug. 28 when, while on duty, Fitzpatrick was beaten into unconsciousness by Joshua Robert Isakson, 31, at Isakson’s Layton home. “I was merely trying to protect the people that he was supposed to love from his rage and brutality,” Fitzpatrick said Thursday during Isakson’s sentencing in F...

Salt Lake City cops seek robber who took beer, cash

Thu, 23 May 2013 12:48:03 MDT

Salt Lake City cops seek robber who took beer, cash

by Bob Mims The Salt Lake Tribune

Published May 23, 2013 12:48PM MDT

First he grabbed the brew, then the cash. Now Salt Lake City police are on the lookout and hope a tip will lead to the robber’s arrest. Police say the suspect — described as a 5-foot-10 Polynesian man in his 20s, wearing a black beanie, black short-sleeved shirt and blue jeans — walked into the 7-Eleven at 1157 W. California (1330 South) about 4 a.m. Wednesday. After taking beer from the cooler he approached and threatened the clerk, demanding money from the cash register. After receiving an uns...

Salt Lake City transients argue, man stabbed, suspect arrested

Thu, 23 May 2013 12:35:03 MDT

Salt Lake City transients argue, man stabbed, suspect arrested

by Bob Mims The Salt Lake Tribune

Published May 23, 2013 12:35PM MDT

A Cuban national was being held without bail Thursday after being arrested in a west Salt Lake City stabbing that left a man in serious condition. Salt Lake City police Det. Dennis McGowan said the 50-year-old suspect allegedly stabbed the 24-year-old victim during an altercation in an area frequented by transients near the 100 South block of 600 West about 6:20 a.m. Wednesday. The victim had left the area briefly and returned, finding unspecified personal property missing. He confronted the 50-...

Police identify Bridal Veil Falls victim, an apparent suicide

Thu, 23 May 2013 11:40:48 MDT

Police identify Bridal Veil Falls victim, an apparent suicide

by Bob Mims The Salt Lake Tribune

Published May 23, 2013 11:40AM MDT

Investigators have identified a man who fell 200 feet to his death at Utah County’s Bridal Veil Falls. Utah County Sheriff’s Sgt. Spencer Cannon said the victim is a 49-year-old man who lived in the county, but declined to provide his name until the man’s family has been notified. Sheriff’s deputies found him at the bottom of the popular Provo Canyon site about 8 p.m. Wednesday, and it appears he committed suicide, Cannon said. Efforts to identify the victim were complicated by extensive head i...

Provo cops plan checkpoint, patrols to nab DUIs

Thu, 23 May 2013 10:10:02 MDT

Provo cops plan checkpoint, patrols to nab DUIs

by Bob Mims The Salt Lake Tribune

Published May 23, 2013 10:10AM MDT

The Provo Police Department will be doing its part to keep drunk drivers off the city’s roads this Memorial Day weekend with a traffic checkpoint and beefed up patrols planned. Chief Rick Gregory stated Thursday that the checkpoint will be operating beginning Friday evening at an otherwise unspecified location within the city limits. Officers will be contacting drivers passing through the checkpoint for signs of alcohol or drug impairment. Gregory warned that those caught driving while impaire...

Survivor of I-215 fatal crash remains in critical condition

Thu, 23 May 2013 09:23:02 MDT

Survivor of I-215 fatal crash remains in critical condition

by Bob Mims The Salt Lake Tribune

Published May 23, 2013 09:23AM MDT

A West Valley City man remained in critical condition Thursday, four days after he was injured in a multivehicle crash that killed another man on Interstate 215. The condition of Juan Garcia, 46, of West Valley City, was unchanged from late Monday, when he was flown by helicopter to Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, according to hospital spokesman Jess Gomez. Meanwhile, Utah Highway Patrol Cpl. Todd Johnson said troopers believe an unspecified medical condition was to blame for the acciden...

Wife: Man shot by West Valley City cops “didn’t have the guts” to kill himself

Thu, 23 May 2013 07:49:12 MDT

Wife: Man shot by West Valley City cops “didn’t have the guts” to kill himself

by Janelle Stecklein The Salt Lake Tribune

Published May 23, 2013 07:49AM MDT

The wife of a man who allegedly prompted a shooting inside the West Valley City Police Department lobby in April told detectives her husband went to the police department with an unloaded handgun because he wanted “someone to kill him because he didn’t have the guts to do it himself.” James Kammeyer, who was wounded but not killed, has been charged with threat of terrorism, three counts of aggravated assault and one count of possession of a firearm by a restricted person, all third-degree felon...