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TAYLORSVILLE — A man shot by Taylorsville police is now facing a criminal charge accusing him of causing damage to a friend's home prior to the shooting.
Alex Stewart Boren, 34, of Holladay, was charged Monday in 3rd District Court with criminal mischief, a second-degree felony.
Boren had been under arrest for investigation of five counts of assault on a police officer and criminal mischief while recovering at a local hospital after being shot by police on March 17. Formal charges concerning any attack on officers had not been filed as of Monday
On that day, Boren went to a friend's house in Taylorsville near 4400 South and 2200 West. While there, the homeowner told police that Boren "was hitting his stuff and threw his stuff 'all over the place,'" and "broke his bar stools and then cut them up," in addition to breaking a TV and cutting the arm of a couch, according to charging documents.
Boren also allegedly began cutting himself with a knife. The homeowner took the first knife away from Boren, who then grabbed a second knife and ran to the upstairs area of the house, the charges state. The first arriving officers were told that he "suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and possibly schizophrenia."
Officers found Boren in a closet. When confronted, he "picked up a large knife and came toward officers. The defendant failed to put the knife down and was shot," charging documents state.
Friends and family members say Boren served in the U.S. Marine Corps and was shot during the Iraq War and was having "an acute post-traumatic stress disorder episode" during the confrontation with police.
The police shooting is being reviewed by a county task force that will turn its findings over to the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office.
Suicide prevention resources
If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, call 988 to connect with the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Crisis Hotlines
- Huntsman Mental Health Institute Crisis Line: 801-587-3000
- SafeUT Crisis Line: 833-372-3388
- 988 Suicide and Crisis LifeLine at 988
- Trevor Project Hotline for LGBTQ teens: 1-866-488-7386
Online resources
- NAMI Utah: namiut.org
- SafeUT: safeut.org
- Suicide Prevention Lifeline: www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Utah chapter: afsp.org/chapter/utah
