Midvale man threatens cop with shotgun, shot at by officer

By Janelle Stecklein

| The Salt Lake Tribune

First Published Mar 17 2013 09:23 am • Last Updated Mar 18 2013 02:24 pm

A 20-year-old Midvale man escaped serious injury after a Unified police officer shot at him early Sunday.

Unified police said an officer attempted to stop Sergio Garcia Jr.’s car about 1:55 a.m. near the English Manor Apartments, 7953 S. Allen St. (600 West) in Midvale, following a domestic dispute Saturday night.

Police said they had been called to Garcia’s home about 8:20 p.m. Saturday after he was involved in a domestic dispute there. But when they arrived, he was gone, and family members said he had left armed with a shotgun.

As the officer was conducting the stop, Garcia got out of the car and brandished the shotgun at the officer, police said.

The officer fired multiple rounds at Garcia, who ran south on Allen Street.

Police searched the neighborhood and found Garcia a short time later hiding next to a garage near 8050 S. Allen. When he refused to cooperate with officers, a police K-9 bit him, officers said.

He was transported to a hospital to be treated for the dog bite and released into police custody for questioning early Sunday.Garcia was later booked into the Salt Lake County jail for investigation of aggravated assault, resisting arrest, fleeing, possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person and possession of a concealed weapon — a sawed-off shotgun. Bail is set at $76,100.

Unified Police and the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office are investigating the shooting.

A second man in the car, who police believe was driving the car, was also detained, questioned and then released, UPD said in a news release.Unified police and the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office are investigating the shooting.

jstecklein@sltrib.com

Twitter @sltribjanelle

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