The Salt Lake City Police Department (SLCPD) has provided an update on the recent officer-involved critical incident, confirming the death of 27-year-old suspect Tanner Cottrell. According to the Salt Lake City Police Department, the series of events began with a structure fire on January 1, which was later determined to be the result of arson.
Reports indicated that Cottrell had taken firearms and a ballistic vest from the scene of the arson, and was likely driving a stolen Ford F-350. After a pursuit involving multiple law enforcement agencies, Cottrell was located, driving the stolen vehicle back into Salt Lake City, shots were fired from his vehicle during the chase. Despite the use of spike strips to halt his progress, Cottrell continued until crashing near 12400 South Redwood Road in Riverton, Utah.
The SLCPD confirmed that seven of its officers were involved in the incident, which ultimately included six different law enforcement agencies before finally concluding when Cottrell's vehicle overturned, resulting in his death on the scene. The medical examiner's office is set to determine the exact cause and manner of death. There were no injuries reported among officers or other community members during the incident.
OICI Protocol Team 4, led by the West Jordan Police, will be leading the investigation into the course of events. Besides the SLCPD, the other agencies involved were the Taylorsville Police Department, the Unified Police Department of Greater Salt Lake, the Utah County Sheriff’s Office, the Utah Highway Patrol, and the West Valley City Police Department. "There is no other information available for release at this time," as per Salt Lake City Police Department.
