A policeman dies after being hit by a vehicle during a confrontation in South Salt Lake, police say

SOUTH SALT LAKE – A policeman from South Salt Lake died Saturday night after being hit by a vehicle during a confrontation with two alleged burglars, one of whom was shot dead by police, announced officials.

31-year-old David Romrell, who died from injuries shortly before 10 pm, said South Salt Lake Police Chief Jack Carruth at a news conference around 3:30 pm Sunday.

Officers responded to a report on an ongoing break-in at a company near 3575 S. West Temple on Saturday night. When police tried to arrest two men who were trying to leave the scene in a vehicle, the driver of the vehicle accelerated towards the police and hit Romrell, Carruth said.

Romrell was transported to the Intermountain Medical Center in critical condition and had to undergo emergency surgery "but was unable to recover from his injuries," Carruth said, his voice sounding uncomfortable. is broken.

Romrell leaves behind a woman and a baby of 4 months.

"Yesterday evening and early this morning, we focused on the family of David Romrell and the family of South Salt Lake who is in mourning," Carruth said.

This is the first in-service death of the South Salt Lake Police Department.

"Even if we prepare or know the risks of this work, we are not prepared for that," Carruth said. "It took us all by surprise. It's very, very painful. "

Romrell, whom Carruth described as a humble agent and "endowed with irreproachable tactics," had been working for the department for less than 11 months. He was a Navy veteran who served several times, Carruth said.

Carruth also took a moment to thank all the officers and firefighters who responded, as well as the hospital staff who had tried to rescue Romrell.

During an early Sunday morning procession, Romrell's body was escorted by "hundreds of agents" from Intermountain Medical Center to the medical examiner's office in Taylorsville, where "he will be monitored by officers until his funeral." Carruth said.

At Saturday's showdown, police fired at the vehicle while it was accelerating and bullets hit the vehicle and the driver, Carruth said. The driver of the vehicle was later declared dead and had not been identified early Sunday morning.

The second man from the vehicle fled on foot but, with the help of K-9 officers, was found hidden a short distance away and placed in custody. His name has not been published either.

The police have not yet revealed any information about the police officers who fired the shots or the fact that it might be both of them.

As officers' weapons were fired, the critical incident protocol involving officers was activated and an outside body investigated the shootings, Carruth said.

contributing: Sean Moody, KSL TV

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