UTAH COUNTY -- A deputy in Utah County shot a man who allegedly charged at the officer while wielding a knife Saturday morning, and the suspect later died at a hospital.
Police identified the deceased as 33-year-old Mark Daniel Bess of Lake Shore, and they state he has a lengthy criminal history that includes being booked into jail 22 times.
According to a press release from the Sheriff's Office, a deputy responded to the Lake Shore area around 11:30 a.m. to locate Bess, who was wanted on several warrants. When the deputy located the suspect, he fled on foot and the deputy pursued him.
The deputy encountered Bess behind a barn at 4934 South and 3200 West, and at that time Bess stopped and produced a knife. According to the press release, the deputy told the man multiple times to drop the knife, but the man allegedly refused to do so.
Police stated the suspect was about 45-50 feet away but began to charge at the deputy, and when he was about 10-15 feet away the deputy fired at least two shots, striking Bess in the head and body.
Deputies and bystanders performed CPR, and the suspect was taken to Utah Valley Regional Medical Center, where he later died.
The deputy was not injured in the incident.
Cannon said Bess had two warrants for his arrest out of Salt Lake County and another warrant out of Utah County. The warrants were for felony drug charges as well as traffic violations.
Police believe Bess was living in a home in the area where he was found Saturday, and they had sent officers to the area the week prior but were unable to find him at that time.
The press release states Bess had been booked into the Utah County Jail 22 different times on charges ranging from drugs, to assault, to theft, to domestic violence.
