St. George • Authorities in Utah say police shot a man in the chest after he claimed he had explosives in his home and wielded a medieval-style battle ax, but he survived with no serious injuries because he was wearing body armor.
Cedar City police say two officers first tried using stun guns, but the darts had no apparent effect before an officer shot 38-year-old Benjamin Dee Wilcken early Monday morning.
Wilcken later surrendered and was arrested.
The Spectrum of St. George reports that an Iron County SWAT team was summoned after the standoff began about 11 p.m. Sunday with a report that Wilcken was suicidal, may have harmed himself and had family members including children with him at home.
Surrounding houses were evacuated due to the threat of explosives, but police say no devices were later found.
Wilcken was booked into the Iron County jail just before 7 a.m. Monday on second-degree felony complaints of assaulting a police officer and making threats against a person or property, in addition to misdemeanor complaints of disorderly conduct and intoxication, according to the jail’s booking information.
