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SARATOGA SPRINGS — The mother of Darrien Hunt has been charged with several misdemeanors for an alleged confrontation with Saratoga Springs police.
Susan Hunt, 51, was charged Nov. 25 in Saratoga Springs Justice Court with interfering with an arresting officer, a class B misdemeanor; driving on a denied license, a class C misdemeanor; failing to disperse, a class C misdemeanor; and disorderly conduct, an infraction.
Susan Hunt, whose son Darrien Hunt was shot and killed by two Saratoga Springs police officers in September, reportedly came across two other officers who were conducting a routine traffic stop on Oct. 19. Hunt's attorney, Robert Sykes, had earlier reported that Susan Hunt stopped and "apparently got into it" with the officers.
To avoid a conflict of interest, the case was investigated by the Utah County Sheriff's Office. That investigation was completed and turned over to the Saratoga Springs city attorney to be reviewed for official charges. Saratoga Springs city officials said the city attorney's office also sought outside counsel from another attorney's office to again avoid a potential conflict of interest.
Susan Hunt was ordered to appear in court on Jan. 23 for an arraignment.
Darrien Hunt was shot six times by Saratoga Springs Cpl. Matt Schauerhamer and officer Nicholas Judson on Sept. 10 after he allegedly lunged at officers with a katana sword and then ran away. The Utah County Attorney's Office determined that the shooting was legally justified on Nov. 3.
Darrien Hunt's family is expected to file a civil lawsuit against the city. The Salt Lake branch of the NAACP has also called for the U.S. Department of Justice to conduct an independent investigation into the shooting.
