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Two people ended up hospitalized after a high-speed pursuit and shoot-out with police in a Taylorsville neighborhood.
Unified Police Chief Jim Winder said officers were staking out an armed robbery suspect in West Valley City early Thursday when that person entered a car and attempted to leave. The police gave chase, winding their way through neighborhoods.
"During the course of that pursuit the suspects were firing multiple times at the officers as it moved from the Kearns area here into the Taylorsville area," Winder said.
Officers also used a spike strip. It succeeded in disabling the car.
"After some period of time the vehicle came to rest. The suspects exited and a gun fight ensued."
Taylorsville resident Jackie Brooks was at a neighbors house playing cards when she heard the cars and gunshots.
"We hit the ground and just waited for it to be over when we realized it was the cops out there," she said.
Brooks said the worst part was that her 20-year-old daughter was all alone in their apartment across the street, where Brooks could do little to protect her.
"I just texted her to get up and get down on the ground because there were bullets flying." Brooks said. "It was really scary, you know. We could have died."
A bullet went through one of the windows in Brooks' apartment complex. No police or bystanders were hit.
The suspects both had injuries from the gun battle. Winder said a man, later identified as Ramon Franco, 31, ended up hospitalized in critical condition. A woman, Celene Hernandez, 19, was also hit.
The shooting triggers an investigation but Winder said early indications are the two officers involved in the shooting followed protocol. One works for the Unified Police Department, the other for West Valley City.
West Valley Police Chief Lee Russo said his department supports the actions of their officer.
"We're proud. We think he performed very well."
Russo said detectives had been interested in Franco for awhile. He's suspected of taking part in an armed robbery spree that's carried out crimes in both Salt Lake and Utah Counties.
"It's a relief," Russo said. "As we can see from the pattern of conduct displayed here over the last couple days, these were dangerous criminals."
Franco's suspected accomplice in those robberies was arrested Tuesday following a separate car chase. Brianna is a reporter and weekend anchor for KSL News Radio. Contact her at: bbodily@ksl.com
