SALT LAKE CITY — A man who allegedly threatened to shoot Salt Lake City firefighters and then pointed a gun at police officers was arrested and taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries Saturday night.
Around 8 p.m., the fire department responded to reports that a man had lit his own yard on fire near 1400 S. Utahna Drive (between 1100-1200 West).
However, Salt Lake City Police said they were called in to assist after the "arson suspect" threatened to shoot the firefighters.
Officers responded and attempted to communicate with the suspect, but police say he then went into his house, came out with a gun and pointed it at them.
Two officers fired shots. It was not immediately known if the suspect shot at them or whether he was hit. Investigators from outside police agencies within the county will attempt to determine exactly what happened as part of the "Officer-Involved Critical Incident Protocol."
The officers were not injured.
The man then retreated into his house but later surrendered peacefully. Paramedics took him to a local hospital to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries. It was not stated whether he was injured by gunshots or some other means.
"We know that this was a very dynamic and chaotic situation, so we would like to recognize the bravery and the courage of our police officers and also those Salt Lake City firefighters who remained on scene from a safe distance to make sure that the fire did not get any larger than it did, and also to treat the man after he came out of the house for those injuries," SLCPD Sgt. Mark Wian said.
The two officers involved in the shooting were placed on paid administrative leave, as per standard SLCPD procedure.
The suspect has not been publicly identified.
