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Davis County Attorney rules Clearfield fatal officer-involved shooting justified

Posted at 3:40 PM, Sep 06, 2016
and last updated 2016-09-06 17:59:54-04

CLEARFIELD, Utah – An officer-involved shooting that left a 31-year-old man dead after a SWAT standoff in Clearfield last month was ruled justified by the Davis County Attorney’s Office Tuesday.

After reviewing the investigation by the Protocol Investigation Team, the attorney’s office determined SWAT Officers Tyler Cunningham, Eric Smith and Davis County Sheriff’s deputy Brooklyn Webb acted within the scope of Utah law.

Authorities say they were forced to shoot Benjamin Heaton, of Layton, during a SWAT standoff on Aug. 3 after he fired a gun at law enforcement.

Police say the standoff started at about 11:30 p.m. when they tried to pull Heaton over when he was seen driving a vehicle reported stolen on July 31.

Heaton took off then immediately left the car and climbed on top of a shed outside a home near 500 North and Fern Drive.

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

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

Charlene Lavon Johnson, 21, of Ogden, was also arrested in connection to this incident for receiving or transferring a stolen vehicle.