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WEST VALLEY CITY — A West Valley police officer was almost hit early Saturday morning after trying to break up a large party.
"When we initially got called out, it just came out as a loud party or disturbance," said West Valley Police Lt. Dalan Taylor.
That call came in to dispatchers at 2:10 a.m., Taylor said. Police officers get calls all the time about loud parties, he said, but this one at 4444 S. 4800 West, must have been one heck of a party.
Police estimate about 100 people were at the home, and they weren't too thrilled when the first officer arrived.
"It was pretty much the attitude of everyone there that they weren't going to comply; they weren't' going to do what they were told," Taylor said. "I'm sure alcohol had a lot to do with that."
When the first officer arrived, he quickly realized he was outnumbered. The officer called for backup right away, Taylor said, and within minutes officers from other departments were there to help him out.
"There was a point where we had all of our cars there; we weren't able to get control," Taylor said.
As more police officers arrived, the people at the party tried to leave as fast as they could.
"A fight broke out," Taylor said. "(An officer) saw the fight start. He heard gunshots, and then he saw a group of individuals get into a car and start to leave."
That car swerved towards the officer, who was out of his patrol car, but he was able to get out of the way.
Eventually, police got control of the situation, issued 33 citations and took 12 people to jail.
West Valley police are continuing their investigation, Taylor said, and more arrests may come later.
