By Melinda Rogers
The Salt Lake Tribune
SALT LAKE CITY — David “D.J.” Rogers’ gut instinct told him to keep driving when he saw an elderly man jumping and yelling on the side of a northeastern Utah road during a late fall snowstorm.
“Crazy farmer,” thought the pipe fitter from Roy as he and wife Brittany headed down the road for a weekend of deer hunting. They had just attended a barn dance near the Wyoming-Utah state line in September.
But Brittany Rogers convinced her husband to stop so the couple could check in on the stranger’s well-being. Seconds later, a frantic Bill Johnson approached their car, partially bound with duct tape and saying that two escaped fugitives had broken into his trailer, tied him up and stolen his vehicle.
The Rogers and Johnson, a 79-year-old retired Salt Lake City police officer and Sandy resident, were recognized Wednesday for their role in the capture of two convicted murderers who escaped from the Daggett County jail in September.
The Rogers’ Good Samaritan act netted them $5,000 Wednesday from the U.S. Marshals Service for assisting in the capture. Johnson received $5,000 from the U.S. Marshals Service and $10,000 from Utah Department of Corrections during a ceremony at the U.S. District Courthouse in Salt Lake City.
The Rogers, flanked by their parents as well as daughter Montana, 3, and Milan, 1, said they were glad to help someone in need. They plan to use the cash for bills, while Johnson expects to use the money for Christmas presents and expenses from a recent hospital stay.
D.J. Rogers said he’s been overwhelmed by attention from the incident.
“It’s definitely different,” he said.
Personal thank-yous from U.S. Marshals Service Director John Clark, who was in Utah for a conference in Park City, and Department of Corrections Deputy Director Robyn Williams, were among the accolades the trio received Wednesday.
“I don’t think there are enough zeros in infinity to express our appreciation,” Williams said after presenting a check to Johnson.
Copyright 2007 The Salt Lake Tribune