A task force that serves Iron, Beaver, Garfield counties released more information Tuesday about a police shooting that happened on Valentine’s Day in Cedar City.
The Iron/Beaver/Garfield Counties Critical Incident Task Force identified the four officers who shot at Larry Joseph Lee Tessier on Feb. 14 as Cpl. Zac Adams, Officer Orlas DeMasters, Officer Heather Daynes and Officer Tyrell Crofts, all with the Cedar City Police Department. They were placed on paid administrative leave while the shooting is investigated.
Police responded to a call about a 36-year-old man who allegedly assaulted another man around 8 p.m., according to a task force news release. They found the man, identified as Tessier, and attempted to pull him over for a traffic stop. Officers were talking to him when he suddenly fled in his vehicle. They chased Tessier and he drove recklessly, swerving into oncoming traffic and the sidewalk. He kept fleeing even after his tires were spiked.
Tessier was finally forced off the road by police, according to the news release. He then allegedly rammed a police car, backed up and drove “aggressively” toward another police car while attempting to flee. The four officers shot at him. He was struck several times, after which the officers began life-saving measures.
Tessier was taken to a hospital and is expected to survive his wounds and be charged for his alleged crimes. The initial victim also survived.
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