TAYLORSVILLE, Utah, Jan. 23, 2021 (Gephardt Daily) — Two people are in custody and a third at-large after police responded to the area near 2300 West and 4800 South in Taylorsville overnight, with reports of shots fired while officers pursued suspects in a Sandy vehicle burglary.
The incident began about 1 a.m. when two vehicles were seen by a metro gang officer as they sped northbound onto I-15 at 7200 South. Thinking there was a possible road rage incident taking place police began to follow the vehicles. At one point police said it appeared shots were being fired from one of the vehicles.
Officers lost sight of both vehicles near the I-215 Redwood Rd. exit.
Moments later another officer soon spotted one of vehicles near 2200 West and Quailstone Drive. Police followed it to Taylorsville where the suspects ran from the vehicle and into the neighborhood.
One person on scene was taken into custody after an encounter with a police K-9, while two others were believed to have escaped.
Arriving officers reported hearing gunshots and a wide containment perimeter involving police from multiple agencies was set up around the neighborhood.
Arriving officers reported hearing gunshots and a wide containment perimeter involving police from multiple agencies was set up around the neighborhood.
Police then used a drone and heat seeking cameras to surveil the neighborhood while reverse 911 calls went out to residents telling them to shelter in place.
After a couple of hours police determined at least one suspect was hiding in a nearby home.
A SWAT team was called in and police negotiators were able to successfully talk two occupants to come outside.
Police obtained a search warrant and entered the residence where a third person believed to be one of the car burglary suspects was taken into custody.
Investigators have yet to determine the relationship between the residents and the suspect, if any.
Police say it’s also unclear where the second vehicle ended up, but they do not believe anyone was injured.
Unified Police Detective Ken Hansen told Gephardt Daily there were a number of details still being tracked down and that more information would be forthcoming once investigators had more time to work the case.
