Suspect Shoots at Police During High Speed Chase

Gene Kennedy reportingTaylorsville police officers were shot at, and one officer was almost hit by a car, during what turned out to be an extra-dangerous high speed chase.

Sgt. Vaughn Allen, Taylorsville Police: "During the pursuit, the suspect leaned out the window and fired a round at our officers."

The suspect was trying to dodge police in the neighborhoods around 4400 South and 3600 West. The problem: He turned down a dead-end street. The truck he was in crashed into this fence.

Police immediately arrested the female passenger in the truck. But they couldn't find Christopher Mower. He took off on foot.

Thinking he was armed, officers surrounded the neighborhood and brought in bloodhounds. The dogs tracked Mower's scent to a nearby shed. He gave up peacefully.

Mower will face charges of aggravated assault against a police officer for what happened early this morning.

Around 1 a.m., Taylorsville Police were watching a home while investigating a stolen motorcycle complaint.

When Mower and his female passenger walked out of the house and got into a truck, police tried to pull them over. Officers say Mower took off, pulled out a sawed off shotgun and started firing.

Sgt. Vaughn Allen, Taylorsville Police Dept. "It was unusual for someone during a pursuit to shoot at us. But during any of these things, people are high on meth usually, they are involved in stolen vehicles, and they're dangerous. Anything can happen."

Police say Mower also tried to ram a police squad car. It's still unclear if he responsible for the stolen motorcycle that started the investigation to begin with, or if he just panicked for other reasons when he saw police officers.

We're still trying to clear that up. We hope to have some new information tonight on Eyewitness News.

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