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KAMAS — A man was killed in a standoff after he evaded a traffic stop by a Summit County deputy Wednesday morning, the Wasatch County Sheriff's Office said.
About 12:30 a.m., a Summit County sheriff's deputy attempted a traffic stop in Kamas on a vehicle registered to a man who had a warrant for his arrest, according to a news release from the Wasatch County Sheriff's Office.
The man's warrant was related to accusations of him damaging "the power supply to vital communication infrastructure" for Wasatch and Summit counties, the news release stated. The Summit County deputy had been alerted that Wasatch County deputies had been trying to locate the driver.
The driver of the vehicle evaded the traffic stop, leading to a pursuit that ended in a crash on Bench Creek Road in Wasatch County. The driver left his vehicle and "advanced toward the deputy wielding a large blunt object. In response, the deputy discharged his firearm," the sheriff's office said.
Authorities did not specify what object the man was carrying.
The deputy "immediately" began lifesaving measures on the man, but he died from his injuries at the scene. His name has not been released.
The deputy has been put on "routine paid administrative leave," as is customary when officers are involved in a shooting, authorities said.
In August, the Wasatch County Sheriff's Office received a civil process request to serve an eviction notice to the man, according to the news release.
"Given the historical context and information from the individual's associates, deputies made extensive efforts over several weeks to contact him away from his residence, with the intention of reducing the potential for confrontation and harm to both the individual and law enforcement officers," the statement said.
The incident is being investigated by multiple agencies including the Utah Attorney General's Office. The man's identity has not been released.
