Body Camera Video Released In West Point Shooting Incident
Mar 11, 2020, 11:35 PM
WEST POINT, Utah – A man identified by investigators as a “known white supremacist” has been charged with attempted aggravated murder, among other counts, as officials made public body camera video of a February shooting incident involving the man and sheriff’s deputies.
Zachary Mendelkow, age 35, was also charged Wednesday with felony aggravated kidnapping, aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, obstructing justice and possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person in connection with a previously undisclosed kidnapping case.
The body camera footage showed an intense encounter that lasted only seconds on the morning of February 25 near 4600 West and 800 North in West Point.
Newly-released body camera footage captured a dramatic exchange between deputies and a man described by investigators as a "known white supremacist." That man was also charged Wednesday with a previously undisclosed kidnapping…@KSL5TV #Utah
Photojournalist: @JDortz_Photog pic.twitter.com/TFEueZlVfK
— Andrew Adams (@AndrewAdamsKSL) March 12, 2020
In the video, two deputies were seen approaching Mendelkow, who was wearing a hoodie and standing next to a fence in a side yard.
After a brief exchange of words, Mendelkow could be seen pulling a gun from his pocket and pointing it at one of the deputies.
According to a probable cause statement included with the charging documents, the man attempted to fire the weapon.
“When played slowly, Mendelkow tried pulling the trigger a few times,” the document stated. “For whatever reason, the revolver did not discharge. As police later discovered, the revolver had the hammer back. It had five live rounds in the cylinder.”
The deputy returned fire in Mendelkow’s direction, but Mendelkow was not hit as he dropped to the ground.
“You’re lucky you’re not dead,” one of the deputies could be heard afterward saying to Mendelkow.
“You’re lucky you’re not,” Mendelkow responded.
After deputies took the man into custody, Davis County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Andrew Oblad said investigators learned of a kidnapping earlier that morning where Mendelkow was the suspect.
“A victim was kidnapped from the home at gunpoint, forced to drive to various locations throughout Weber and Davis counties and was later released,” Oblad said.
The probable cause statement mentioned a woman who investigators said helped Mendelkow through the kidnapping.
Oblad said it was possible there are other accomplices and anybody with information should contact the Davis County Sheriff’s Office at 801-451-4150.