A Wasatch County Sheriff’s deputy shot and killed a man who threatened him with a “blunt object” after a chase, police said.
According to the sheriff’s officer, the deputy was pursuing a the man — who had an “active no-bail warrant” out for his arrest — at about 12:30 a.m. on Wednesday, and attempted a traffic stop. The suspect evaded the stop, and the deputy pursued him until the suspect crashed his vehicle on Bench Creek Road in Wasatch County.
According to police, the suspect got out of his vehicle and “advanced toward the deputy, wielding a large, blunt object.” The deputy shot the man, then began attempting life-saving measures until paramedics arrived. The suspect, however, died at the scene. His name has not been released.
The deputy was not injured. He has been placed on paid leave while the shooting is investigated.
The suspect was wanted for reportedly violating probation after a 2018 conviction for felony criminal mischief. According to police, he had “damaged the power supply to vital communication infrastructure serving parts of Wasatch and Summit counties.”
According to a database maintained by The Salt Lake Tribune, this was the 22nd police shooting in Utah this year. Another police shooting took place just hours later in Sandy.