Officers Won’t Face Charges In Connection To Fatal October Shooting
Aug 21, 2019, 1:38 PM | Updated: Jan 4, 2023, 11:15 am
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Salt Lake County District Attorney’s office released surveillance video from an October 2018 altercation where police officers shot and killed a man on parole.
The two police officers involved in the incident will not face charges in connection with the incident, according to Salt Lake County District Attorney Sam Gill.
Gill announced his office will not file charges against Unified Police Detective Jerry Valez and Detective Nick Stidham with the Saratoga Springs Police Department, saying the officers were justified in using deadly force to prevent death or serious injury.
The incident happened October 18, 2018, near 450 East 300 South in Salt Lake City, where officers from the Metro Gang Unit had tracked two vehicles as part of an investigation.
One of the vehicles was driven by 23-year-old Andrey Tkachenko.
Gill said police entered the parking lot and Tkachenko revved his engine before rapidly accelerating and driving at both officers.
The officers then fired their weapons “out of fear of being pinned underneath and hit by the vehicle,” Gill said.
LIVE: District Attorney reveals findings of 2018 officer-involved critical incident
LIVE: The Salt Lake Co. District Attorney is revealing the findings of an Oct. 2018 officer-involved critical incident. The press conference starts at 12:30 p.m.
Posted by KSL 5 TV on Wednesday, August 21, 2019
Both officers’ knees were grazed by the vehicle.
Gill said police stopped firing and approached the vehicle, when Tkachenko raised both hands before lowering one towards his waistband.
The detectives broke through the drivers’ side window and stopped his movements before pulling Tkachenko from the vehicle and beginning CPR.
Gill said police found a handgun in Tkachenko’s waistband.
Tkachenko died as he was being transported to the hospital.
