Southeast Utah police officer arrested for alleged assault

A Monticello police officer was arrested after officers say he allegedly assaulted a man, according to KUTV.

Sgt. Cole Young, 36, was placed on paid administrative leave Friday, according to a newss release from Monticello City. San Juan County sheriff's deputies had arrested him Thursday.

"According to the probable cause statement, Young went to his wife's Monticello house Wednesday night and was told to leave," KUTV reported. "After using a key to enter a locked door, the documents said, Young grabbed a man who was there and threw him against a wall, leaving a dent in the sheet rock."

Young and his wife are going through a divorce, said city manager Ty Bailey.

The alleged assault did not occur while Young was on duty, said Bailey, who noted that Young "handles himself really well as an officer."

"We take it really seriously," Bailey said. "… We'll do what we have to do and give him [as fair a] process as we can, and hopefully he'll be able to get his personal life in order soon."

The sheriff's office is investigating the allegations. The city is also conducting an internal investigation.

"Sgt. Young has been cooperating with city staff during this process," the city stated in its news release.

Bailey did not know how long Young has been with the department, which is comprised of only three full-time officers — Young included — for the city of about 2,000 people. The sheriff's office and Utah Highway Patrol is helping fill his shifts, Bailey said.

"It's never a happy time to see one of your officers arrested and placed on leave, but we will cooperate as a city with the appropriate investigators and processes to see that justice and fairness are served for all involved," the city's statement reads.

As of Friday night, Young had not been charged in 7th District Court.

mmcfall@sltrib.com

Twitter: @MikeyPanda