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The Cache County Sheriff's Office has ruled that one of its deputies followed the department's policies when he shot and killed a man who was threatening suicide and opened fire on a SWAT team at his apartment building.
Sheriff D. Chad Jensen did not identify the deputy who shot 53-year-old Roger Darrin Barker on July 29 at Barker's apartment in Logan.
Barker's relatives had called police after Barker reportedly sent text messages threatening to kill himself. Officers called Barker and, upon learning he was armed, called in a SWAT team.
During several hours of negotiations, Barker became increasingly agitated and threatened officers, investigators have said. He then went to the door of his apartment unit and opened fire on officers, police have said.
Police previously reported that two officers shot at Barker. However, Jensen's statement on Friday indicated that only one sheriff's deputy was investigated in the shooting. It is not clear whether only one officer fired on Barker, or whether a second officer from a separate agency also fired.
Barker was shot twice and died at a hospital.
Jensen wrote that a "multi-agency investigation" of the shooting had been completed, as well as an internal investigation. Details of the multi-agency investigation were not immediately released.
The deputy who shot Barker has returned to duty.
"These types of incidents are always difficult to be a part of — difficult for the deputy and his family, for the Office, for the family of the suspect, and the community as well," Jensen wrote. "We express our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Barker."