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PAYSON — A suspected shoplifter who was shot by police after prosecutors say he wielded a knife at officers and refused to put his weapon down is now facing criminal charges.
Octavio Salas, 20, of Payson, was charged in Utah's 4th District Court on Monday with attempted aggravated murder, a first-degree felony; plus interfering with police and retail theft, class B misdemeanors.
On March 16, Salas entered Payson Market, 586 N. Main, took a tray of sushi and left the store without paying, according to charging documents.
Officers who spotted Salas walking down the street a short time later ordered him to stop and come to them, but he refused. The officers then noticed Salas was carrying a knife and ordered him to drop it, "which he ignored and continued to back up, telling officers to shoot him," the charges state.
Tasers were deployed twice but were ineffective, police say.
"As a third Taser was being deployed, (Salas) began advancing toward the officers who started to back up. The third Taser was deployed and had no effect on (Salas). After the third Taser, (Salas) started running toward officers, raised the knife, and started swinging it at the officers using slashing motions. (He) came within feet of one of the officers when another officer fired his weapon and hit (Salas) in the right shoulder," the charges state.
Salas was taken to a local hospital to be treated and was moved to the Utah County Jail two days later.
