SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, July 17, 2019 (Gephardt Daily) — Salt Lake City Police officials have released the name of a man who died in an officer-involved shooting Monday by officers responding to a call of a “psychiatric problem.”
The victim — the subject of the call — was fatally shot, and a police officer was wounded, apparently by friendly fire.
“The suspect involved in the OICI from Monday has been identified as Michael Brand, 43,” said a tweet from the Salt Lake City Police Department Wednesday morning. “The next release of information will come at the OICI press conference that will occur within 10 business days of the incident.” OICI stands for officer-involved critical incident.
The incident unfolded when officers responded to a 911 call about 2 p.m., reporting a “psychiatric problem” at the Sunrise Metro Apartments, in the area of 580 S. 500 West.
In a late Monday night news conference, Salt Lake City Police Lt. Brandon Shearer characterized the incident as a “very dynamic situation” in which officers had to make split-second decisions.
Shearer said the officer who fired the fatal shot is “a patrol officer and, I believe, is certified as a crisis intervention officer.” Crisis intervention officers are trained specifically to respond to calls in which there may be a mental health crisis.
Shearer confirmed that “the suspect,” later identified as Brand, was the subject of the original police call.
Shearer said when officers arrived, Brand presented a weapon and the officers responded to his actions.
When asked if the weapon was an AirSoft gun, as is being reported by KUTV2, Shearer replied that he didn’t know what kind of gun it was and said he couldn’t provide any further details.
According to KUTV2, Salt Lake City Housing Authority Deputy Director Britnee Dabb described a video recorded at the housing complex showing three officers and a case worker at the resident’s front door.
Dabb told KUTV when the resident opened the door he was holding an AirSoft pistol. At that point, Dabb said an officer quickly drew his weapon and began firing.
Shearer said he could not comment on the facts of the investigation.
Shearer did confirm the Salt Lake City police officer who was wounded was hit by one bullet, adding that officials are still looking into exactly how it happened.
The officer was transported to the hospital for treatment of his wound and was released later Monday afternoon.
“We are thankful our officer was patched up and sent home quickly,” the SLCPD tweeted Monday.
The website for the Sunrise Metro Apartments said: “Sunrise Metro is a 100-unit complex designed with the goal of ending chronic homelessness in mind.”
Unified Police Department will be conducting the investigation into the incident, as is protocol.
Gephardt Daily will have more on this developing story as information is made available.
