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VERNAL — A Vernal police officer was shot multiple times late Saturday but was able to drive himself to a hospital before being airlifted to a Wasatch Front hospital.
About 11:20 p.m., police were called to 750 North near 400 East after a report of an intoxicated man threatening a neighbor with a firearm. When officers arrived the man, later identified by officials as 27-year-old Rookus R. Curry, opened fire on the police and sheriff vehicles, according to police. The officer and responding deputies returned fire, striking Curry, who fled on foot but was later arrested a short time later.
Both the officer and Curry were treated at a local hospital before being flown to Wasatch Front hospitals, police said. The Vernal officer's condition was stable Sunday afternoon, according to a statement from the Utah Department of Public Safety. A sheriff's deputy also sustained minor injuries and was treated at a local hospital and released.
The Utah State Bureau of Investigations will be investigating the incident.
