A 36-year-old man was shot by police in Cedar City when he tried to flee from officers Sunday night.
According to the Iron/Beaver/Garfield Counties Critical Incident Task Force, Cedar City police received a report that a man armed with a knife was attacking another man. When officers arrived at about 8 p.m., the suspect — Larry Joseph Lee Tessier — fled in his car and was pursued by officers from the Cedar City Police Department, the Iron County Sheriff’s Office and the Enoch Police Department.
“The suspect drove recklessly on the roadways and was a danger to the public,” according to a news release from the task force. Tessier continued to flee even after police spiked his car’s tires and attempted maneuvers to make him stop. The task force said its “preliminary investigation” indicates Tessier tried to ram police with his car.
“At some point ... law enforcement officers discharged their weapons,” according to the news release. Tessier was struck multiple times by bullets, and was transported to Cedar City Hospital in critical condition. He was later flown by helicopter to St. George Regional Hospital.
According to police, the man who was assaulted was injured, but his wounds were not life threatening.
The officers who fired the shots were placed on paid administrative leave. Police released no further information about the shooting itself.
