A Vernal City police officer was life flighted to a Wasatch Front hospital over the weekend after being shot by an intoxicated male who was shot in return during the exchange. Uintah County Sheriff’s Office issued a press release sharing that on April 27th at approximately 11:20pm, law enforcement was called to 750 North and approximately 400 East in Vernal on the report of an intoxicated male threatening a neighbor with a firearm. “When law enforcement arrived, the suspect opened fire on police and sheriff vehicles. A Vernal City Police Officer was struck multiple times as he attempted to exit his vehicle. That officer and responding sheriff deputies then returned fire, striking the suspect. The suspect briefly fled, but was apprehended a short time later near the scene. The officer that was shot drove himself to a local hospital and was later flown to a hospital on the Wasatch Front for treatment. A sheriff deputy also sustained minor injuries and was treated at a local hospital and released. The suspect was transported to a local hospital and later flown to the Wasatch Front for further treatment.” The incident remains under investigation by the Utah State Bureau of Investigations. The officer’s condition has been reported as stable.
