SOUTH SALT LAKE, Utah, Nov. 27, 2018 (Gephardt Daily) — South Salt Lake police officials have announced tentative funeral plans for Officer David Romrell, who died after being struck by a car while investigating a burglary Saturday night.
Investigators say Romrell, 31, was run over by two suspects outside a business near 3575 South and West Temple Street.
At a press conference Tuesday afternoon, South Salt Lake Police Sgt. Gary Keller said that officials are tentatively looking at the date of Wednesday, Dec. 5 at the Maverik Center. That date still needs to be confirmed with Romrell’s family, and there is no time set as yet.
A probable cause statement released by the 3rd District Court Tuesday morning said the incident began when South Salt Lake Police officers were dispatched to a burglary in progress.
Suspect Jeffrey Don Black, 43, told officers in an interview the two suspects went to the address of the occurrence in a vehicle to “collect a debt.” Black stated they were unable to gain entry and were going to leave when he saw police officers with their red and blue lights activated on their vehicles, at which point the driver of the car, Felix Anthony Calata, 32, accelerated in an attempt to flee and hit Romrell.
Calata was shot by police and was transported to an area hospital where he died from gunshot wounds.
Black fled from police and was located hiding inside a boat near where the crashed vehicle was abandoned.
Black was arrested Monday night and is facing charges including first-degree felony aggravated murder, second-degree felony burglary of a dwelling, second-degree felony obstruction of justice and third-degree felony aggravated assault.
At the press conference Tuesday, officials also outlined which agencies will be handling the elements of the case from this point on.
South Salt Lake police will share information about the funeral arrangements, which will be posted by Gephardt Daily as they are announced. SSLPD also will be conducting an investigation into the incident.
South Salt Lake Lt. Jim Anderson said at press conference: “It is standard procedure that anytime there is an officer-involved critical incident, that an administrative review will be conducted of that incident, by the internal affairs unit. We will be concentrated on the use of force that was used by officers, just ensuring that the guidelines concerning policies and procedures were met.
Unified Police officials will be conducting two investigations; one conducted by the UPD critical incident protocol team on the officer-involved shooting, along with a criminal investigation involving the murder of Romrell.
UPD Sgt. Melody Gray said that at this time, officials cannot say if it was one officer or more than one that fired shots at Calata, but that will be established in the course of the investigation.
“We are continuing with both those investigations, those charges have been filed, and that investigation still continues today,” Gray told assembled media. “Our violent crimes detectives are working very diligently with the protocol team to complete these investigations.”
Romrell joined the South Salt Lake Police Department in January 2018.
The Marine veteran is survived by his wife and their 4-month-old son.
Romrell was the first South Salt Lake police officer to be killed in the line of duty.
At the Tuesday press conference, officials also announced that there is a tree dedicated to Romrell at the Festival of Trees at the Mountain America Expo Center in Sandy. All proceeds from the Festival of Trees benefit Primary Children’s Hospital. The event runs from Wednesday to Saturday; for more information click here.
