A 46-year-old Hurricane man was shot and killed by police officers in southern Utah on Monday, and a police dog was stabbed and critically wounded, officials said.
According to a news release from Hurricane City, about 18 miles northeast of St. George, police officers were called to the city cemetery when a man there reported that he was being threatened by another man — later identified as Jose Palacios Pascacio.
When the reportedly threatening man was confronted by police, he “started yelling at officers” and drove his car at them, officials said.
Pascacio then drove away and police followed, but officers ended their pursuit “within one minute due to safety concerns.” However, Pascacio was later seen “driving very slowly and erratically” near 700 West State Street, making “numerous abrupt U-turns,” according to police.
Pascacio collided with a passing car, and his damaged vehicle went off the road, where it came to a stop. He was no longer in it when police arrived.
Shortly after, residents of a home near 2460 West and 250 North called police to report that a man in his mid-40s had just walked into their home. The four residents of the home were not injured, but police reported that when officers entered the home, Pascacio was fatally shot and died at the scene.
Hurricane police provided no information about what happened inside the home leading up to the shooting. However, a police dog was taken to Las Vegas in critical condition to be treated for wounds after it had been “stabbed in the neck.”
The shooting is under investigation by the Hurricane City Police Department and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
In a statement, Hurricane police offered condolences to the family of the man killed. “And our hearts and prayers are currently with our K9 that was injured and his partner and family, as we all are hoping for the best possible outcome.”
According to Hurricane police, the dog — Riko, a 5½-year-old Belgian Malinois/German shepherd mix — is now stable.
The shooting marked the 24th police shooting in Utah so far this year, according to a database maintained by The Salt Lake Tribune.
Follow @ScottDPierce