3 Washington County deputies cleared in shooting
"Based upon our review of the investigative materials we received, the County Attorney's Office concludes that the officers involved reasonably believed that the use of force was necessary to prevent death or serious bodily injury to themselves or others," Washington County Attorney Brock Belnap wrote.
"Hence, the use of force was justified under Utah law."
Washington County Sheriff's Sgt. Kurt Bowen, deputy Jim Jessop and deputy Matt Fisher were involved in the shooting of Michael D. Loeffel, 37, who was shot twice inside a home in Enterprise on April 24. He survived.
Deputies responded to a domestic violence call involving a couple fighting in a car. As a deputy approached the vehicle, authorities said Loeffel sped away.
Police said Loeffel and the woman ran into a home, but deputies said Loeffel turned and told deputies he would shoot them if they tried to follow. The woman was later seen trying to get out of the home, but Loeffel pulled her back in, deputies said.
The deputies ran in the front door and got the woman out. Police said the deputies followed Loeffel into the house, where he grabbed a rifle and pointed it at one of the deputies, prompting two of them to open fire.
E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com
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