SALT LAKE CITY -- The Fraternal Order of Police is calling on Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill to file an attempted murder charge against a man accused of hitting a Unified Police officer during a high-speed chase last week.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, FOP spokesman Ian Adams said the district attorney should charge Tyrel Cox, 31, with attempted murder for the July 29 incident near 2100 South and Bangerter Highway. The police officer's union said UPD Officer Jared Cardon was laying down spikes on the road when he was hit.
"This is a classic case of attempted homicide on a police officer," said Adams.
Adams noted this is not the first time the district attorney's office has been involved in a case with Cardon. In 2012, Cardon himself was charged with reckless endangerment for his part in a shooting involving someone he claimed was trying to hit him. The case was ultimately dropped by the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office.
Because of that history, Adams said, the union feared prosecutors may not be serious enough in charging Cox.
"He's sitting back and feeling as though he has to defend himself because he's been questioned in the past," said Lindsay Jarvis, Cardon's attorney.
Gill told FOX 13 that the case was being screened, with a final decision on charges in the case expected Thursday.
"The Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office screens its cases based on the evidence," he said. "If someone is the victim of a crime, we will treat them as such."
