News

Actions

Officers forced to shoot suspect in Clearfield SWAT standoff

Posted at 8:10 AM, Aug 03, 2016
and last updated 2016-08-04 00:04:23-04

CLEARFIELD, Utah – A suspect is dead after officers said they were forced to shoot him during a SWAT standoff in Clearfield overnight.

Police said the standoff started at about 11:30 p.m. Tuesday when they tried to pull over a car that was reported stolen on July 31.

The driver, 31-year-old Benjamin William Heaton of Layton, took off.

He immediately left the vehicle and climbed on top of a shed outside a home near 500 N. Fern Dr, according to Clearfield Police Department Lt. Kelly Bennett.

Clearfield officers said the armed suspect was threatening officers and the SWAT team was called in.

“The suspect made verbal threats to the officers and continuing to threaten to harm them, and at one point he did mention he was going to kill an officer,” Lt. Bennett said.

As authorities were working to negotiate with Heaton, he fired at officers.

Officers shot back, and killed Heaton while he was still on the roof of the detached garage.

A woman has also been arrested in this incident. Police said 21-year-old Charlene Lavon Johnson of Ogden was taken into custody for receiving or transferring a stolen vehicle.