Police release identities of those in off-duty police shooting

LOGAN — Logan City Police now say a 30-year-old Preston, Idaho, man was shot by an off-duty police officer Tuesday, after a traffic accident on US-91 north of Cove.

Chief Gary Jensen said Cade Austin was the driver of the northbound vehicle that ran off the road into a bar pit, striking a large gas line, near mile post 44. Prior to the accident he was reportedly seen driving erratically.

A pair of EMT’s from the Smithfield City Fire Department were the first ones to arrive on the scene. One of them was assistant fire chief Jeremy Hunt who is also a reserve police officer with the North Park Police Department.

Jensen said when Hunt and the other paramedic approached the vehicle, Austin acted uncooperative and brandished a handgun, aiming it at the two men.

Hunt, who is a concealed weapon licensee, also brandished a handgun.

Jensen said Austin and Hunt exchanged gun fire before retreating to positions of cover. Austin was hit in the chest and the left shoulder. Detectives and State Crime lab technicians are piecing together evidence, determining who fired first and how many shots were fired.

A standoff ensued as additional law enforcement personnel arrived on scene. Austin remained in his car and continued to threaten police with what appeared to be the gun.

Jensen said SWAT team members and negotiators were called. After about an hour of communicating, Austin appeared to lose consciousness. SWAT teams approached and removed him from the vehicle. He was transported to the Cache Valley Hospital by ambulance and later flown to Ogden Regional Medical Center by helicopter. He is currently in serious condition.

Questar Gas employees were able to shut off the gas leak after the standoff ended.

US-91 was closed to all traffic between Cove and the Idaho state line while crews investigated the shooting. It was reopened around 9:30 p.m.

<hr /><p style=”text-align: center;”>[email protected]

Free News Delivery by Email

Would you like to have the day's news stories delivered right to your inbox every evening? Enter your email below to start!