SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Jan. 31, 2025 (Gephardt Daily) — The Salt Lake City Police Department has released body-worn camera videos capturing a fatal officer-involved critical incident that happened in Riverton around 12:30 a.m. January 3, 2025.
An armed arson suspect, identified as Tanner Cottrell, 27, died in the incident, after leading officers from multiple agencies on a prolonged chase, which “extended through Salt Lake City, into North Salt Lake, and then back into Salt Lake City” according to a news release by the SLCPD PR Unit.
Cottrell allegedly fired shots during the high-speed pursuit, which started around 11:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 2, about 32 hours after an arson fire he’s believed to have started in Salt Lake City near 2650 East 2100 South.
The SLCPD statement says the chain of events began to unfold Wednesday at approximately 3:16 p.m. when officers assigned to the Liberty Patrol Division responded to a residential fire determined by the Salt Lake City Fire Department to have been intentionally set.
“On Thursday, January 2, 2025, the SLCPD received information suggesting that Cottrell may have been involved in the aggravated arson case” and a ballistic vest may have been taken from the scene, the SLCPD news release says.
“Detectives also received information that Cottrell was possibly driving a stolen Ford F-350.”
On Friday night, an “outside law enforcement agency saw the stolen Ford F-350 believed to be associated to the arson investigation. The exact time and location of when law enforcement initially located the vehicle remain under investigation.”
Cottrell, identified as “the driver of the Ford F-350, entered Salt Lake City. Officers from multiple jurisdictions began a coordinated effort to safely apprehend him.”
During the pursuit, “law enforcement reported gunfire coming from Cottrell’s vehicle,” the SLCPD PR statement alleged.
“In response, tactical armored vehicles were requested to enhance officer and community safety.”
Law enforcement used spike strips, which damaged the vehicle’s tires, but Cottrell continued driving.
About 12:30 a.m. Friday, the Ford F-350 crashed in Riverton near 12400 South Redwood Road and landed on its roof.
A review of the body-worn camera video reveals multiple officers then opened fire on the truck.
Cottrell died at the scene.
The SLCPD news release said the “cause and manner of death” was to be determined by the Utah Medical Examiner’s Office.
Officers from six law enforcement agencies, including seven from Salt Lake City Police Department were involved in the incident, the SLCPD PR Unit release said.
Prior to the crash, an SLCPD officer “engaged in an encounter that met the criteria for an OICI,” the news release said, but the nature and timing of that engagement was not revealed.
“As is standard procedure, all involved SLCPD officers have been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.”
The other law enforcement agencies involved in the incident include, the Taylorsville Police Department, Unified PD, Utah County Sheriff’s Office, Utah Highway Patrol and West Valley City PD.
There were no other reported injuries to law enforcement or community members.
OICI Protocol Team 4, led by the West Jordan Police Department, is conducting the independent investigation into this incident.
“SLCPD is releasing six BWC videos from officers involved in this OICI. There is no BWC footage from one involved officer.”
The SLCPD PR news release stressed information provided to the media was based on a “preliminary review of the details available to the Salt Lake City Police Department.
“As the investigation progresses, information may change.”
Video still excerpted from body-worn camera video recorded during officer-involved-critical-incident in Riverton, Utah, Jan. 3, 2025. (SLCPD/ Gephardt Daily)
