SOUTH SALT LAKE, Utah, Dec. 4, 2018 (Gephardt Daily) — Utah Highway Patrol officials shared the route the funeral procession for slain South Salt Lake Police Officer David Romrell will take Wednesday.
Investigators say Romrell, 31, was run over by two suspects outside a business near 3575 South and West Temple Street while investigating a burglary Nov. 24.
South Salt Lake Police said in a news release the funeral will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 5 at the Maverik Center, 3200 Decker Lake Drive, West Valley City. The public viewing will be from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and the service will begin at 11 a.m.
The funeral procession is expected to begin between 12:30 p.m. and 1 p.m. Wednesday.
The procession will go from the Maverik Center to 3500 South westbound, then to I-215 West northbound, to SR-201 eastbound, to I-80 eastbound, to State Street southbound, to 4500 South westbound, to I-15 southbound, to 10600 South eastbound, to Larkin Sunset Gardens in Sandy.
A probable cause statement released by the 3rd District Court said the incident began when South Salt Lake Police officers were dispatched to the burglary in progress.
Suspect Jeffrey Don Black, 43, told officers in an interview that he and another suspect, Felix Anthony Calata, 32, went to the address of the incident 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 Calata, who was driving the car, 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 initially fled from police and but was located and arrested. He 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.
Gov. Gary R. Herbert issued the following statement regarding Romrell’s death:
“Jeanette and I join the entire South Salt Lake Police family in mourning the death of one of our finest, Officer David Romrell. He was exemplary in every way, and I feel humbled by the service he gave his country as a Marine, as well as the service he gave our communities here in Utah. We mourn with and for Officer Romrell’s dear family, and we pray that they may find peace in the midst of this heartbreak.”
The governor will order the lowering flags to half staff Wednesday across the state of Utah.
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.
