By Steve Gehrke
The Salt Lake Tribune
SANDY, Utah — Police Officer Jason Nielsen was justified in firing his handgun during a chase that ended in a suicide in late May, according to the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office.
The D.A.'s office said in a Tuesday morning news release that the shooting was an effort to prevent death or serious bodily injury to himself or others.
On May 26, a Sandy officer in an unmarked car tried to stop Richard Jones, who was driving his Toyota pickup around 8:45 p.m. near 7800 South and 800 East.
Jones did not stop until two additional patrol cars helped to pull him over, Sandy Sgt. Justin Chapman has said.
As Nielsen parked behind the pickup, Jones drove off to 8020 South and 1300 East, where he stopped at a red light, according to the news release.
There, Nielsen parked in front of Jones’ pickup and approached him, but Jones steered toward Nielsen and bumped him, the news release said.
Jones again drove off, and Nielsen returned to his cruiser. He followed Jones to High Point Parkway, where he saw Jones turn around and head back toward him, the news release said.
Nielsen then drove his patrol car into Jones’ path, parked and started to deploy road spikes, according to the news release.
But Jones continued to speed toward his car, so Nielsen -- believing Jones was going to ram him -- ran off to the side of the road, according to the news release.
“Mr. Jones changed his direction of travel and drove toward Officer Nielsen,” the District Attorney’s Office wrote. “Officer Nielsen pointed his gun at Mr. Jones’ truck and fired twice. Both bullets lodged in the body of the truck.”
Chapman has said officers continued to pursue Jones to the intersection of 8020 South and 300 East, where he stopped.
A Jeep then pulled up to the intersection and a woman got out and walked up to Jones’ pickup. Chapman said Jones then pulled out a shotgun, so an officer got the woman away from the pickup, and Jones shot himself to death.
Police said the woman knew Jones, but they did not know whether Jones pointed the gun at her.
Copyright 2009 The Salt Lake Tribune