Washington Police shot at by man fleeing pursuit, suspect shot

Washington County Sheriff's Office deputy standing watch over the entrance to the crime scene, July 20, 2012 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News.

WASHINGTON – Washington City Police officers were involved in a shooting in the Washington Fields area Friday afternoon.

Ed Kantor, Washington City Police public information officer, said in a statement that at approximately 3:20 p.m. Friday, an officer attempted to stop a driver for a traffic violation.  When the officer attempted contact, the driver fled south in the vehicle on Washington Fields Road.

Choosing not to pursue the vehicle through a residential area, the officer issued an “Attempt to Locate” call via dispatch for the driver and vehicle.

The suspect vehicle was spotted a short while later by Washington City officers while patrolling near 3650 South Washington Fields Road.  They also attempted to stop the vehicle. At this time the driver of the vehicle fired several shots.

The officers returned fire and stuck the driver.  The driver was treated at the scene by medical personnel and transported via medical helicopter to Dixie Regional Medical Center.  His exact condition is unavailable at this time. The pursuit concluded near the intersection of 3650 South and KD-Jo Lane.

No officers or other civilians were injured and there are no public safety concerns in the area at this time.

This is an ongoing investigation and the Washington City Police Department is requesting the public stay out of the area if at all possible until the investigation is concluded.

Officers were still on the scene as of 8 p.m. Friday.

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @MoriKessler

Copyright 2012 St. George News.

 

 

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26 Comments

  • Mama July 20, 2012 at 5:36 pm

    It was not an officer. Phew!

  • bud July 20, 2012 at 8:13 pm

    Good job, WPD. Glad to see that the target practice payed off.

  • Suspects brother July 20, 2012 at 9:39 pm

    People make mistakes. You shouldn’t be glad someone is in critical condition! What a douch.

    • J July 20, 2012 at 10:59 pm

      (Another news media) released the name and the picture of the suspect. Apparently its the same guy who side-swiped a motorcyclist and left the scene of the accident while drunk just a few days ago. Yeah, that was all a ‘mistake’. And what happened today just another ‘mistake’. NOT! What kind of world do you live in? You don’t just accidentally do that kind of behavior.

      • Sunshine Girl July 20, 2012 at 11:41 pm

        I just saw that it was that same guy too on KSL …. Crazy!! It does not seem this Mecham guy cares to much about anyone but himself. He needs to own his actions and whatever happens to him is his own fault :/ nobody wants to hear others justify his irresponsible behavior. He a grown man for crying out loud!

      • a July 21, 2012 at 4:17 am

        What news media released this info? Very wrong information. The side swiper was booked into jail the night the swipping happened….totally different incidents! Very sad for any of you to judge……everyone makes mistakes, thankful no one else was injured, but plenty of lives being affected!

  • Sunshine Girl July 20, 2012 at 10:26 pm

    You are correct… People make mistakes and most mistakes have a consequence…..Some worse then others. It’s a very sad heartbreaking situation for all involved.

    • l July 21, 2012 at 1:12 am

      Not the same person……he was arrested that night…..

  • -Mike- July 20, 2012 at 10:36 pm

    The douche is the guy shooting at police. Running a stop sign is a mistake, shooting at police is attempted murder (or suicide, depending on your perspective). Don’t try to rationalize it.

    • Debbie July 21, 2012 at 3:19 am

      Thank you all cops who put their lives on the line every day to make our lives safer. I pray for the officer involved in the shooting that he will never feel remorse or guilt for making the hard choice to use his weapon to protect all of us. Thank you for your honorable service!

      • techguy July 21, 2012 at 3:13 pm

        Damn right. Before people criticize police officers, they should remember who they’ll turn to when their life is on the line.

  • Suspects brother July 21, 2012 at 1:18 am

    Its not the same guy from the motorcycle accident. It wasn’t right but you know nothing about the guy and how bad his life was at the time. So don’t judge someone for their mistakes! Or be happy that someone ended up shot

  • Jammess July 21, 2012 at 1:48 am

    Going back th what j said…. What news sources have released the suspects name and picture?

    • Sunshine Girl July 21, 2012 at 7:37 am

      KSL news released that info and just because people have said he needs to own his choices and mistakes does not mean they are judging

  • mm July 21, 2012 at 4:11 am

    He is still a person….obviously a cry for help…..I know this persons family very well, some people have addictions, for any of you to judge is not your place….I am prayingfor this family and for this man to get the help he needs and deserves……and am grateful no one else was hurt also…..so sad!

    • Dsull July 21, 2012 at 10:51 am

      Justifying a violent act because of an addiction does not help the person. People are responsible for their actions. I’m more worried about the lives he put at risk than what may be happening in his life. I would hold those close to him responsible more than his addiction. Maybe those around him should do more to correct the behavior before it manifests as gunfire at the police. We all have family, friends, and acquaintances with addictions and problems, If any of them were to repeat this course of action, I would be as outraged as I am now, and would hope that they receive the punishment that they deserve. What ever happened to personal responsibility in this country.

      • p July 21, 2012 at 12:56 pm

        How childish of you to put blame on his family……who are you to judge. He needs to own up to his own actions. No one here to blame but himself, if he survives. Obvioysly a cry for help..for you to point blame on innocent people outrages me more than any thing about this story!

        • Dsull July 21, 2012 at 6:32 pm

          I only said I would blame the family before I would blame the addiction. Read the rest of what I posted. Many addicts I have seen in my life have people close to them that “enable” them with the attitude posted above. That attitude outrages me because giving someone a pass because of some problem adds to the problem.
          People posting that we need to not “Judge” or that he has other problems somehow lessens the fact that he shot at someone is what outrages me.

  • Mama July 21, 2012 at 6:51 am

    KSL said it was Mecham. What idiots. That guy is still in jail.

  • aaaa July 21, 2012 at 7:53 am

    Yes he is still a person, but no matter what is going on in his life DOES NOT give him the right to flee from an officer and then shoot at them. There are several means to take care of issues that you are having besides shooting at officers. I am VERY proud of the officer for maintaining professionalism while keeping himself and other responding officers safe and getting the subject into custody. Thank you Washington Police Department for having such great officers to protect your city. I am one proud citizen today!

    Oh and the news source that was wrong.. KSL

  • afa July 21, 2012 at 12:05 pm

    Wow it is crazy some Washington County cops actually had to do something for once. Most of what you see is them harassing young people. I mean the bookings alone are 80% warrants mostly under 400 dollars. Pathetic.

    St. George city and Washington city have terrible cops.

    • aaaa July 21, 2012 at 2:25 pm

      Are you one of those people that feel like you are always harassed by the cops? They only harass those who continually break the law. If you actually learn about what they do and about the REAL calls that they actually have to respond, arrest, or assist on, instead of just looking at the “pathetic” warrants, like you say, you may gain some respect for these so called terrible cops…

  • Lina July 21, 2012 at 4:00 pm

    Addiction is a disease you give to yourself not an excuse to shoot at the police or anyone else for that matter.

  • Concerned July 21, 2012 at 7:55 pm

    I am a recovering alcoholic, yet never at any time did I run from the police , put other lives in danger, or shoot at anyone.I was responsible for my own actions, and didn’t try to pass my problems off or put other lives at risk. The police don’t know why he ran from them, and were smart enough to not endanger any other lives when they called off the pursuit. While I am sorry he got shot, he obviously has problems and needs help. But I have 1 question , if it was one of the police officers lying in that hospital in critical condition, would you still be trying to feel sorry for man who took off and started the whole mess????

  • Lindsay August 5, 2012 at 3:51 pm

    Typical of St. George peeps to talk about a story with completely wrong details, mixing people up and then judging all parties involved. LoL

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