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WEST VALLEY CITY — An officer is on paid administrative leave after firing his weapon at a hit-and-run suspect in West Valley City Tuesday evening. It happened at 5600 West and 3500 South.
Witnesses say they saw a car swerving and tailgating other cars. They say it suddenly swerve sharply and hit a biker.
"I braced for an impact, because he was that close to me that I figured 'he's probably gonna hit me,'" witness Anthony Thompson said. "I heard him swerve, and he hit the thing right there."
"(He) knocked the lady off of her bike," said witness Kelsie Parks.
The cyclist wasn't injured.
A West Valley police officer was close by on a traffic stop and heard the accident.
Originally, it was reported that the driver of the fleeing vehicle shot at the officer, but now police say it was the officer who fired several shots at the driver's car. Now investigators are trying to figure out why.
"We don't shoot out tires, generally. It's not a protocol," said West Valley City Police Lt. Kent Stokes.
Officers caught up with the driver in a cul-de-sac nearby and, after chasing him on foot, took him into custody. They have not released any details about who he is or why he fled.
Email: jstagg@ksl.com
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