Cedar City Man Barricades Himself in Room and Sets Fire
CEDAR CITY, UT – May 29, 2015 (Gephardt Daily) – Officers from the Cedar City Police Department were summoned to a disorderly subject at 4 N. 900 West in Cedar City today at approximately 2:15 p.m.
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Officers said they arrived and made contact with the homeowners who told officers the adult male inside the home was Aaron Tippetts. The home owners stated that Tippetts had locked them out of the home and was acting disorderly. Officers made contact inside the home with Tippetts and he threw a liquid substance, similar to paint thinner, in the faces of two officers on scene. Tippetts barricaded himself inside of a bedroom within the home.
Officers attempted to negotiate a peaceful surrender with Tippetts, but he remained barricaded for approximately 20 minutes. As officers were attempting to communicate with Tippetts, smoke and flames were seen coming from underneath the door of the room in which he had barricaded himself. Tippetts then opened a window to the exterior of the home. Officers gave Tippetts commands but he refused to cooperate. Tippetts was then pulled from the window away from the fire. Tippetts clawed officers and attempted to bite them. After a brief struggle he was taken into custody.
The Cedar City Fire Department was on scene and quickly extinguished the fire. It is believed that there was no major structural damage to the home as a result of the fire.
The investigation into this incident continues. It is still unknown what triggered Tippetts to behave this way. The two injured officers were transported to a local hospital where they were treated and released. Tippetts was likewise transported to the hospital where he will be evaluated. Tippetts will face several criminal charges to include aggravated arson and aggravated assault.
