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SALT LAKE CITY — Salt Lake police have launched what they call an officer-involved critical incident protocol after the state medical examiner determined that the death of woman who was detained by police in January is a homicide.
Megan Joyce Mohn, 40, died on Jan. 30, at Salt Lake Regional Hospital. The medical examiner ruled Mohn's death a homicide on Thursday, prompting the police department to launch that protocol the next day.
The Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office, however, requested the Salt Lake police delay protocol following the initial release so the findings of the medical examiner's office could be reviewed, according to a statement released Sunday from Salt Lake police..
Mohn's immediate cause of death was "anoxic brain injury" due to "cardiac arrest" due to "probable methamphetamine intoxication in the setting of an altercation involving physical restraint," according to the medical examiner's findings.
The incident began about 3 a.m. on Jan. 11, when a security guard with Marathon Petroleum's Salt Lake City refinery alerted an officer about a woman. He described Mohn as "walking in circles, carrying a piece of rebar in the intersection of 400 W. 900 North," the police statement says.
It was revealed to officers that Mohn had attempted to access a secure area and entered the truck exit gate. Mohn was confronted by a truck driver and ran off the property and into the intersection, according to police.
About 3:30 a.m., an officer approached Mohn and observed two pieces of rebar in her hand. The officer ordered her to drop the rebar, to which she complied, and then told her sit on the ground, the statement says.
A security guard at the scene reported to investigators that Mohn "just kept screaming incoherent language" and "was resisting and attempted to run."
At about 3:35 a.m., the officer took Mohn into custody and called for backup. Police say Mohn refused to give officers her name, began resisting and kicked one officer several times.
She was then placed from a seated position onto her stomach. Mohn continued screaming and kicking, causing officers to use a leg restraint device. Once placed into the restraint, Mohn stopped resisting and yelling. The "sudden change in behavior and lack of physical and verbal response" prompted officers to then put Mohn in a recovery position, according to Salt Lake police.
Mohn was breathing but remained unresponsive. An officer did a sternum rub and a dose of naloxone was administered as attempts to wake her, according to police.
When all attempts failed, officers then decided to remove the restraints and begin chest compressions. Mohn was taken to Salt Lake Regional Hospital in critical condition, where she later died.
Officers reported locating methamphetamine, spice and alcohol on Mohn's property. Police learned of Mohn's death on Feb. 9. The Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office advised Salt Lake police at the time that the incident did not qualify as an officer-involved critical incident.
Following the release of the medical examiner's findings, however, the four primary officers who were involved in the incident were placed on paid leave. Body-worn camera footage of the incident will be released and reviewed as part of the death investigation.
