Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
The man shot and killed by Farmington police on Wednesday had a gun next to him in his vehicle, police said Friday.
A new statement from Farmington police describing the footage from body camera video comes less than one day after the family of 25-year-old Chase Allan accused police of murdering him and said the department has been “stonewalling” them.
Officers shot and killed Allan during a traffic stop. In their Friday statement, police said they pulled him over on Wednesday at 3:22 p.m. near the city’s post office because his vehicle had an illegitimate license plate.
Body camera footage shows Allan — whose mother sued Farmington police five months ago over a traffic stop nearly a year ago — rolled his window down only a few inches and refused to provide identification or cooperate in any way, police said.
“The driver asserted his independence from the laws of the land as well as his belief that he was not required to provide information to the officer, nor was he required to cooperate,” police said.
The initial officer called for assistance, and they “exhausted multiple further attempts” to persuade Allan to cooperate, the statement continues. When Allan still refused to exit the car, police opened the door and attempted to remove him.
“At that time an observing officer yelled out the words, ‘Gun, gun, gun!’ A struggle, which appeared to last only seconds, ensued and gunshots could be heard,” police said in the statement.
Officers secured Allan and said they began rendering aid. An empty holster can be seen on Allan’s right hip in the body camera footage, according to police, and a handgun can be seen lying on the driver’s side floorboard of the car.
The ongoing investigation is being handled by the Davis County Critical Incident Protocol Team, police said.
“Farmington police do not interview the involved Farmington police officers and have no information regarding what they experienced during this incident; however, supervisors have been able to review the body-worn camera video of the officers on the scene,” according to the police statement. “It is our intention to release this video to the public at the earliest opportunity.”
Allan’s family said the officers fired at least …read more
Source:: Deseret News – Utah News