- The video above contains disturbing content.
WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah, Sept. 6, 2019 (Gephardt Daily) — West Valley City Police officials have shared bodycam video from an Aug. 23 fatal shooting in their DUI processing area.
Michael Chad Breinholt (originally identified as Chad Michael Breinholt) died at the scene after an altercation with police in the small basement room. After a scuffle to gain control of a gun, one of several WVCPD officers fired the fatal shot.
In the video, Breinholt, 31, appeared intoxicated. He took off one of his shoes, and claimed he had a gun in it. Officers immediately tried to gain control of Breinholt and his shoe. The video is somewhat confusing due to the fast action and the number of people involved, but it seems to confirm the subsequent fight was for control of an officer’s sidearm.
“From what I can see from the video, Mr. Breinholt has a firm grip on the gun,†said Chief Colleen Jacobs, West Valley City Police, at a media conference where the video presentation was screened.
Breinholt died at the scene. The WVCPD officer who fired the fatal shot remains on paid administrative leave pending the results of an independent investigation by the Salt Lake City Police Department.
To see the presentation with video clips, click the player above. Be aware that the video is disturbing.
Background
Breinholt had been taken into custody earlier, after West Valley City Police officers were called to a business in the area of 2900 S. Redwood Road. Breinholt, reportedly the boyfriend of a business employee, was said to be intoxicated and causing problems, an earlier WVCPD statement says.
Police arrived at about 7 p.m. that Friday.
“Officers responded and contacted Mr. Breinholt in front of the business,” the initial WVCPD statement says.
“Officers determined that there was evidence that Breinholt was under the influence and that he had been driving a vehicle while intoxicated.”
At about 7:40 p.m., Breinholt was taken into custody and transported to the DUI processing room, located in the basement of West Valley’s City Hall building, at 3600 Constitution Blvd.
“During the course of the processing, an altercation occurred and an officer fired his weapon, striking Mr. Breinholt,” the WVCPD statement says. “Medical assistance was called, however, Mr. Breinholt was deceased.”
