Police briefs

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Jun 24, 2009

Police officer injured in Taylorsville crash

TAYLORSVILLE -- A collision between an unmarked police car and an SUV caused heavy damage to both vehicles and sent one of the drivers to the hospital with minor injuries.

Just before 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, an SUV making a turn at the intersection of 1300 West and 3900 South broadsided an unmarked Taylorsville police car on the driver's side.

The officer was sent to a local hospital for observation. The driver of the SUV also received minor injuries. Both vehicles were heavily damaged.

West Valley police will investigate the accident.

-- Pat Reavy

Man critically injured in mo-ped, car crash

A 45-year-old man was in critical condition Tuesday after hitting a car while riding his mo-ped to work.

About 8:45 a.m., the man was traveling on 700 East when a car pulled out in front of him near 4200 South, said Salt Lake County Sheriff's Lt. Don Hutson. Unable to stop in time, the mo-ped hit the side fender of the car, flipping the victim over the hood and tossing him 15 feet on the other side of the car.

Although the man suffered a broken leg and other internal injuries, investigators believe wearing a helmet may have saved his life.

"He didn't lose consciousness," Hutson said.

Ironically, the accident happened just 100 yards away from the office of an attorney who deals in injury accidents and a sign that says, "Save a life, buy a helmet."

The department's Major Accident Team was investigating the incident. Citations against the driver were pending the outcome of toxicology tests, Hutson said. However, there were no obvious signs of impairment.

-- Pat Reavy

2nd trial in slaying is set for October

WEST JORDAN -- Parley Jeffs Dutson's new attorney isn't ready to defend him, so the previously convicted man will have to wait several months before he can be tried for murder a second time.

Dutson was convicted last year of sexually assaulting and killing his girlfriend, both first-degree felonies, while he was high at a party. But a court overturned his conviction after it was discovered that a juror had been raped when she was a teenager and did not disclose that during the jury vetting. Judge Royal I. Hansen determined that her history compromised the integrity of the jury's decision, so Dutson must be tried again.

Since then, Dutson's defense attorney, Brian Gardner, has taken a job out of state, said Dutson's new attorney, Steven Howard. Howard was assigned to the case last week and said he hasn't had a chance to comb through the four large boxes detailing the case's history and evidence.

Hansen set a trial date of Oct. 19-23.

-- Michael R. McFall

Hiker is rescued below Squaw Peak

PROVO -- A search and rescue team rescued a stranded hiker late Monday night.

Brian Roberts, 19, of Provo, contacted dispatchers just after 6 p.m. saying he was stranded in a cliff area on the west face of Squaw Peak in Rock Canyon, Provo police said. He told dispatchers he was unable to go either up or down. Roberts told police he had been attempting to free climb the peak when he became stranded.

A search and rescue team located Roberts about 50 feet from the top of the peak, Provo police said. A medical helicopter responded and transported rescue personnel to a landing zone near the peak.

Roberts was assisted off the mountain and cleared by medics at the canyon. Investigators said Roberts was fatigued and dehydrated but had no injuries.

-- Jacob Hancock

2 men are arrested after a carjacking

Two men police say were involved in a carjacking are in custody after a short pursuit Tuesday evening.

Just before 7 p.m., a middle-age man was sitting in his car reading a book near 500 South and 300 East when two men aimed a gun at his face and demanded he get out of his car, Salt Lake City Police Lt. Melody Gray said. The men then drove off in the car.

Gang detectives in the area "attempted to stop the vehicle, but a short pursuit ensued that went back and forth through the area," Gray said.

The two men got out of the car near 600 South and 600 East and took off on foot. Both men were caught within moments of the foot chase. One of the men was taken into custody by a police K-9, Gray said.

Police arrested Michael Jackson, 22, and Derik Probstgaard, 24, whom Gray called "known gang members."

The weapon used in the carjacking ended up being a BB gun, Gray said.

-- Ethan Thomas