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TAYLORSVILLE, Utah, Sept. 7, 2019 (Gephardt Daily) — After several hours of negotiation, it was tear gas fired into a Taylorsville residence that brought an end to a multi-hour SWAT standoff.
Detective Kevin Mallory told Gephardt Daily that the barricaded suspect, who has since been identified as 35-year-old John W. Pickett, of Taylorsville, surrendered after tear gas was fired at about 3:10 p.m. Saturday.
“He decided to come out, and we were able to take him into custody without problems,” Mallory said. “He was semi-cooperative. He was checked out by medical because he had inhaled some gas. He is being booked into jail.”
The incident began Saturday morning after a reported road rage episode. Pickett allegedly threatened another person with a gun while in the area of 5400 S. Redwood Road.
“The initial report was the suspect pulled a gun and pointed it at the complainant and another individual, and threatened to shoot,” Mallory said. “Officers were able to identify the individual, and responded to his address. He was in his car, but ran into his house, and barricaded himself in the house.”
The residence was in the area of 6000 S. Hazelhurst Drive (2800 West). Taylorsville City tweeted at 12:59 p.m. for residents to stay clear of the area.
The city’s next tweet, at 3:10 p.m., announced the SWAT situation was resolved.
Mallory said negotiators tried to get Pickett to come out.
“He refused to come out on his own. We continued for several hours to try and get him out on his own,” he said. “We were doing everything we could to end it peacefully. Overall, it was a positive outcome.”
Mallory said charges to be filed were still pending. Booking information later Saturday indicated Pickett is being charged with assault against a police officer, aggravated assault, failure to stop at command of a law enforcement officer, and criminal mischief.
Gephardt Daily will have more details as information becomes available.
