Man in shootout with EMTs to spend at least 1 more year in prison

Man in shootout with EMTs to spend at least 1 more year in prison

(Cache County Sheriff's Office)


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UTAH STATE PRISON — A man who fired on emergency personnel who were trying to help him following a car crash will remain in prison for at least another year.

But Cade Austin, 32, said he was expecting that, and looks forward to completing substance abuse classes while he remains incarcerated.

"No one takes this more seriously than I do,” he said in a recording of his parole hearing earlier this month. "I do want to change. I don’t want to be that guy. That was a horrible life I was living.”

On Dec. 15, 2015, Austin was driving erratically on U.S. 91 near Lewiston, Cache County, when he went off the road and crashed into a large natural gas line, causing it to rupture. But when emergency crews arrived to help, Austin opened fire on them. No emergency personnel were injured.

Jeremy Hunt — the assistant fire chief for the Smithfield Fire Department, a member of Cache County Ambulance and a reserve officer with the North Park Police Department — had his gun with him that day and returned fire.

Austin was hit three times, including in the neck, and a shot that went through his arm into his chest and collapsed both lungs.

"I'm very fortunate to be alive," he acknowledged at his parole hearing.

Despite being wounded, a SWAT team had to stand by for an hour as Austin sat in his car and continued to drink from a bottle of Crown Royal whiskey until he passed out and could be taken to the hospital.

He later pleaded guilty to reduced charges of attempted murder, a second-degree felony, and aggravated assault, and was sentenced to up to 15 years in prison.

At his parole hearing, Utah Board of Pardons and Parole pro tem member Camille Anthony noted that Austin has had a long struggle with alcohol addiction.

"You really messed it up big with this one,” she said after recounting what happened. "Alcohol has not served you well."


You really messed it up big with this one. Alcohol has not served you well.

–Camille Anthony, Board of Pardons and Parole


But since being incarcerated, Austin has earned his high school diploma and taken alcohol treatment classes.

"I’m a whole lot different person that I used to be. I think I can handle living on my own,” he said. "Everything changed that day. For a long time I didn’t think I could quit drinking. Now that I’ve been forced to quit drinking, I really understand I can do this."

Before, Austin said he was living a "selfish" life, but now wants to be a better person and not live in self-pity and alcohol all the time.

Anthony asked Austin how he would avoid falling back into old habits if he is released, noting that he had gone through treatment before.


Now that I’ve been forced to quit drinking, I really understand I can do this.

–Cade Austin


"I didn’t take it seriously (then), honestly. I wasn’t ready to change,” he said. "I didn’t believe I could change, so I didn’t plan on changing anytime soon."

A large number of Austin's family members were at the hearing to show support. Austin finished his hearing by apologizing to the emergency crews who responded that day, and by saying he has learned from the experience and now wants to lead by example.

The full parole board voted to give Austin a rehearing in December of 2018 and have an updated risk assessment completed by that time.

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Pat Reavy

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