This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

A criminal suspect was in critical condition and a Unified Police dog dead after a gunfight and SWAT standoff in Millcreek early Thursday.

UPD Chief Deputy Justin Hoyal said UPD officers were attempting to serve an arrest warrant on David Shane Anderson, 36, about 11 p.m. Wednesday at 4303 S. 730 East.

About 30 minutes later, as officers entered the home with the K-9, "Aldo," they came under and returned fire; the dog — it was not immediately known if it wore a protective vest — was fatally wounded.

"Aldo, who is handled by UPD Officer Luis Lovato, had been searching the house ... when he encountered a suspect in the home, and that is when Aldo was shot," Hoyal said. "Officer Lovato extracted Aldo to a different room and covered himself over Aldo to protect Aldo with his body armor. All officers backed out of the home after the gunfire."

Four other people reportedly in the home, too, and were safely evacuated immediately after the gunfire.

Hoyal did say that it was unclear whether Anderson was shot by UPD officers, three of whom had returned fire, or by his own hand. He barricaded himself inside a closet in the residence as officers backed out, and then refused demands to surrender for the next five hours.

When SWAT officers entered the home in a haze of tear gas and finally took Anderson into custody about 5:30 a.m., they found him in critical condition; he remained so at a hospital into Thursday afternoon.

UPD said the warrant officers were attempting to serve was connected to an alleged assault on a police officer last week, after which Anderson allegedly sped away from the scene. No other details on that incident were immediately available.

He was also wanted on a $25,000 warrant for failing to appear in 3rd District Court for an April 4 scheduling hearing on second-degree felony charges of possession of heroin and methamphetamine with intent to distribute, as well as a $2,500 warrant for class A misdemeanor possession of heroin, according to Utah court records.

Aldo, 7, had served UPD as a dual purpose patrol and narcotics dog for the past five years.

Hoyal said the shooting, per protocol, will be independently investigated by the West Valley City Police Department on UPD's behalf.

The three officers involved in the exchange of gunfire were placed on administrative leave.

Salt Lake County Sheriff Jim Winder on his personal Facebook page offered his condolences to Lovato for the loss of his five-year canine partner.

"Both Louis and Aldo have served with distinction and dedication," Winder said. "Aldo will be terribly missed by all."

Winder's Facebook page also featured the image of a police badge with a black mourning ribbon bearing the name "Aldo."

A post on UPD's Facebook page said, "Our hearts are heavy, as we have lost one of our own. The bravery, service and sacrifice given by K-9 Aldo will never be forgotten."

Twitter: @remims Unified Police statement on slain K-9 •

"It is with great sadness that we announce the death of UPD K-9 Aldo. Aldo was shot and killed last night while protecting his handler and other detectives serving a search warrant. Aldo had been in service with UPD for over 5 years, all of them spent with his trainer, partner and best friend, Officer Luis Lovato. Our hearts are heavy, as we have lost one of our own. The bravery, service and sacrifice given by K-9 Aldo will never be forgotten."