SOUTH SALT LAKE, Utah, May 25, 2024 (Gephardt Daily) — Two officers from the Unified Police Metro Gang Unit were injured late Friday afternoon, one of them seriously, during a violent confrontation with a suspected gang member wanted on a federal warrant.
Officer Quin Wilkins, speaking on behalf of UPD Friday night, said the incident happened about 5:40 p.m. near 249 E. Helm Ave.
According to Wilkins, officers working with the Unified Metro Gang Unit and other agencies were attempting to arrest Tyson Yellowbear, 39, when he hit one of the officers with the truck he was driving as the officer was in the street.
A second gang unit officer, who was behind the wheel of an unmarked pickup truck, rammed and disabled Yellowbear’s car in what Wilkins called “a pursuit intervention technique.”
A probable cause affidavit filed Saturday in Salt Lake County’s 3rd District Court revealed the officer who was hit was attempting to deploy a spike strip behind the truck Yellowbear was driving as he backed out of a parking lot.
The PC statement indicates Yellowbear started to turn west, then “suddenly veered back eastbound” toward the officer “and quickly accelerated.”
Yellowbear’s truck struck the officer, “causing him to be thrown over the hood and across the street.”
The officer “was hit with such force that it broke the connector to his police radio and knocked the pistol magazines out of his ballistic vest,” the PC statement says.
After hitting the officer, Yellowbear allegedly turned into the westbound lane of travel on Helm Avenue.
A second officer, who was traveling westbound in an unmarked pickup truck, saw Yellowbear hit the first officer and begin to flee. The officer then rammed and disabled Yellowbear’s vehicle and in the process “sustained serious injuries which will require surgery.”
Yellowbear then “exited his vehicle and fled on foot,” the PC statement claims.
Both officers pursued Yellowbear and attempted to place him under arrest. Yellowbear reportedly “fought with officers, failing to comply with verbal commands,” before he “was ultimately taken into custody.”
Post Miranda, Yellowbear allegedly “admitted operating the vehicle which had hit the first victim officer,” the PC statement says.
He also “admitted to knowing that the person he had hit was an officer; however, he denied intentionally hitting the first victim officer.”
Yellowbear’s probable cause statement reveals he’s been charged with:
- MURDER (ATTEMPTED) – FIRST DEGREE FELONY
- AGGRAVATED ASSAULT TARGET LAW ENFORCEMENT WITH BODILY INJURY – FIRST DEGREE FELONY
- FAIL TO STOP AT COMMAND OF LAW ENFORCEMENT – CLASS A MISDEMEANOR
- INTERFERING WITH A PEACE OFFICER – CLASS B MISDEMEANOR
The federal warrant issued for Yellowbear’s arrest is tied to a charge of “burglary of a dwelling” on January 7, 2024, during which Yellowbear was said to be armed while terrorizing acquaintances inside.
The probable cause statement in the burglary case indicates Yellowbear ultimately surrendered to police and was released on bail while awaiting trial. Court records claim Yellowbear violated terms of his bail agreement by missing a number of court orders, including a hearing scheduled for May 14.
A review of court records shows Yellowbear spent years in the Utah prison system after pleading guilty to charges of third-degree criminal homicide and aggravated assault in connection with a pair of 2006 shootings at a South Salt Lake party, which killed one man and permanently disabled another. Yellowbear was paroled after serving consecutive sentences for those convictions, and an additional five years for assaulting of a fellow inmate.
While there’s a gap in official court records, local media accounts show Yellowbear had numerous run-ins with police prior to the January 7 incident.
Gephardt Daily will update this developing story as more information becomes available.
