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TAYLORSVILLE — A man has been arrested after allegedly ramming three police cars before releasing his rottweiler to attack officers, who shot the dog in self-defense.
Police responded to a call Thursday at about 2:15 p.m. reporting an assault in Taylorsville in which a gun had possibly been involved. As officers were responding, they were advised the man allegedly involved in the assault had left the scene in a gray Dodge pickup truck that was possibly stolen.
Unified Police Department officers saw the truck at 3900 West and 5400 South and ran its licence plates, confirming it had been stolen. They followed it into the parking lot of a Little Caesars at 3950 W. 5400 South.
The suspect then pulled out and rammed one of our police cars at a high rate of speed.
–Justin Hoyal
As the man, Guy Lauritzen, 49, pulled into a parking stall, an officer pulled into the stall behind him in an attempt to take him into custody, according to Lt. Justin Hoyal with UPD. Hoyal said Lauritzen began backing out of the parking stall, at which point an officer attempted to perform a pit maneuver to bring him to a stop, which failed.
"The suspect then pulled out and rammed one of our police cars at a high rate of speed," Hoyal said.
Lauritzen then backed out onto 5400 South, where three officers boxed him in, bringing him to a stop, according to Hoyal. As the officers were attempting to take Lauritzen into custody, the man's rottweiler jumped over the top of him and "came out aggressively charging" the officers.
"Our officers tried to kick the dog away and take a stance to get the dog to stop coming at them, but the dog continued, and they were forced to shoot the dog," Hoyal said. "The dog died at the scene."
Lauritzen was arrested on suspicion of multiple felonies, including possession of a stolen vehicle, aggravated assault on a police officer, assault and fleeing.
