VERNAL, Utah, April 28, 2024 (Gephardt Daily) — A Vernal Police officer struck by multiple bullets after responding to a firearms threat drove himself to a local hospital Saturday night, and was later airlifted to a hospital along the Wasatch Front.
A Uintah County Sheriff’s deputy called to the scene on the same case suffered lesser injuries, and was treated at a Vernal area hospital and released.
Dispatch was called at 11:20 p.m. Saturday on a report of an intoxicated man allegedly threatening a neighbor with a firearm. Vernal police and Uintah County Sheriff deputies responded to the area of 750 North and 400 East.
“When law enforcement arrived, the suspect opened fire on police and sheriff vehicles,” a Uintah County Sheriff’s statement says.
“A Vernal City Police Officer was struck multiple times as he attempted to exit his vehicle. That officer and responding sheriff deputies then returned fire, striking the suspect. The suspect briefly fled, but was apprehended a short time later near the scene.”
The officer who was shot drove himself to a local hospital and was later flown to a hospital on the Wasatch Front for treatment. A sheriff deputy also sustained minor injuries and was treated at a local hospital and released. The suspect was transported to a local hospital and later flown to the Wasatch Front for further treatment.
“The Utah State Bureau of Investigations will be investigating the incident.”
