SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Sept. 22, 2016 (Gephardt Daily) — The Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office has determined the use of deadly force by three Unified Police Department officers in the shooting of David Shane Anderson was legally justified.
Anderson died at the hospital May 2 from injuries he sustained during the shooting incident in late April, during which he shot UPD K-9 Aldo.
On April 27, law enforcement personnel served a search warrant to find and arrest Anderson at 4303 S. 730 East, said the statement from the District Attorney’s office. Anderson was wanted for fleeing from police.
Officers encountered Anderson, 36, hiding in a basement closet. A UPD K-9 officer sent his police service dog Aldo into the closet to secure Anderson.
Anderson fired two rounds, one which struck Aldo, fatally wounding him. Three officers then returned fire at Anderson, who subsequently died in hospital. Some officers later reported they observed Anderson firing at officers through sheetrock walls.
One of the officers used his own body to shield the wounded K-9 from any other gunfire. Aldo was a police dog with the Unified Police Department for five years.
The three officers who took part in the shooting were placed on routine administrative leave.
The Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office is required by Utah state law, and operates pursuant to an agreement with participating law enforcement agencies and consistent with established protocols and applicable law, to perform joint investigations and independent reviews of officer involved critical incidents including police officers’ use of deadly (including potentially deadly) force used in the scope of police officers’ official duties.
