SALT LAKE CITY – The Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office has ruled the actions of officers who shot and injured two suspects in July as being justified.
Police were investigating suspects believed to be involved in an armed robbery when 31-year-old Ramon Franco and 19-year-old Celene Hernandez fled from officers on July 17.
Officers said Franco fired several shots at pursuing police while in his vehicle and later as he fled on foot. Officers returned fire as the suspect ran. Franco was hit twice and Hernandez once. Both survived.
There were no officers injured in the shooting.
According to information from the District Attorney’s office, it was ruled that the use of deadly force by Officer Dustin Olzack of the Unified Police Department and Officer Shawn Bias of the West Valley City Police Department was legally justified. A letter from Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill states both officers believed, due to Franco’s actions, that deadly force was necessary to protect themselves and others from death or serious injury.
