Police officer "fights to save his life": suspect dies after burglary in Salt Salt Lake

SOUTH SALT LAKE – A South Salt Lake police officer "is beaten for life" in a hospital on Saturday night, after being hit by a car occupied by alleged burglars, one of whom was killed by the police, announced the authorities.

The officer was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition, said Salt Lake City general manager and spokesman Gary Keller.

At approximately 5:30 pm, an ongoing robbery was reported to police at 3575 S. West Temple. Two minutes later, when two police officers arrived in South Salt Lake, "there was a clash between the suspects and the police," Keller said. .

"The suspects were in a car, they accelerated (and) hit one of our officers, he was taken to a hospital in critical condition and was immediately operated on, where he is now. fire was fired by the police.One of the suspects was shot and died, "he said.

The name and age of the alleged burglar who was killed have not been disclosed. The injured officer was also not identified as a member of the South Salt Lake Police Department.

"We have an officer at the hospital fighting for his life," said Keller, his voice trembling with emotion.

Keller noted that the officer was not conscious but was breathing when he was transported.

The second alleged burglar abandoned the vehicle and fled the scene. He was later found hidden and arrested a short distance with the help of K-9 officers, Keller said. Her name and age have not been revealed either.

According to Keller, the entire test took place "in a block, maybe two blocks".

Keller did not immediately know which officers had fired, or whether it was both. He did not know if it was the driver or the passenger inside the vehicle who had been killed by a shot.

In addition, the additional information on what the investigators might have had before the confrontation that led to the shots were not immediately available. Keller said that "more than one" shot had been fired, but he did not know exactly how much.

Details of the alleged burglary were few, although Keller noted that it was reported in a commercial complex.

Shortly after 9 pm, Keller said the police felt that there was no longer any threat to the public.

"(The) suspects are found, they are in detention.There is no threat to the public at the moment.This is a gigantic crime scene on which we are investigating … we had many reactions from outside agencies, "Keller said.

In a short statement, the South Salt Lake police also said that "many agents" had responded at the scene.

Keller said the staff of the South Salt Lake Police Command and other agency personnel were in the hospital on Saturday night when the injured policeman was undergoing an operation.

"It's hard for everyone in the entire department when an officer is injured at this point," Keller said. "So it's very difficult, but we have to do our job, we have to keep moving, and that's where we are."

contributing: Sean Moody, KSL TV

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