SLCPD Investigating Shooting in Liberty Wells Neighborhood
April 14, 2024SLCPD Promotes Safe Driving Practices During Distracted Driving Awareness Month
April 16, 2024 |
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PUBLIC RELATIONS UNIT |
April 15, 2024 |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact Information: PolicePRUnit@slcgov.com Media Request Form: https://slcpd.com/mediarequest/ |
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SLCPD Releases Body-Worn Camera Footage from April 2, 2024 Officer-Involved-Critical-IncidentSALT LAKE CITY — Today, in compliance with Salt Lake City ordinance 2.10.200, the Salt Lake City Police Department (SLCPD) is releasing body worn camera footage of the officer-involved-critical incident (OICI) from Tuesday April 2, 2024, at 875 South State Street. Statements in this release are based on a preliminary review of limited information available at the time of this writing. A thorough investigation is being conducted by an outside agency, pursuant to the OICI protocol required by state law. Additionally, the SLCPD Internal Affairs Unit will conduct a separate investigation. The videos released today captured the OICI, as defined by city ordinance, from the body-worn cameras of six SLCPD officers. The man who died is identified as 36-year-old Cameron Ammon Cloward. Statement from Salt Lake City Police Chief Mike Brown “Any loss of life is tragic, and the use of deadly force is a traumatic event for our officers. This situation unfolded very quickly and involved safety risks to our community and officers. Our officers are trained to perceive, interpret, and respond to a person’s actions. The body-worn camera footage released today shows our officers urging, and ordering, Mr. Cloward to put down his knife and to stop walking toward them. Maintaining the safety of our community can be full of risk and unpredictability.” 9-1-1 Call Links to SLCPD BWC footage Case Information This is the first OICI for the SLCPD in calendar year 2024. This investigation began at 2:24 a.m. on April 2, 2024, when SLC911 received a 9-1-1 call from an employee working at the Chevron gas station, located at 875 South State Street. The employee told the 9-1-1 call taker the suspect, later identified as Mr. Cloward, had a knife and tried to stab him through a window. Based on the employee’s statements to SLC911, Mr. Cloward may have committed an aggravated robbery by using, or threatening to use, a dangerous weapon during the commission of a robbery or attempted robbery. When officers arrived, they found Mr. Cloward walking in the gas station’s parking lot. Officers could see Mr. Cloward holding a knife. Mr. Cloward started walking north from the gas station on the east sidewalk of State Street. Mr. Cloward turned around, faced officers, and began walking back into the gas station parking lot. Body-worn camera footage from one of the officers on scene captured him telling Mr. Cloward to stop walking toward the gas station.
Body-worn camera footage shows Mr. Cloward holding his knife with the blade positioned under his chin. Officers gave repeated commands for Mr. Cloward to drop the knife, stop walking, and to get on the ground. Mr. Cloward refused the officers’ orders, and repeatedly said, “I don’t care.” An officer requested a “less lethal shotgun.” Officers began creating distance between them and Mr. Cloward as he continued to hold the knife. As this occurred, Mr. Cloward took steps toward the officers, while holding the knife, and while continuing to disregard their orders to stop.
Four (4) SLCPD officers used deadly force. Officers placed Mr. Cloward into custody and conducted a medical assessment. Gold Cross and Salt Lake City Fire confirmed Mr. Cloward died on scene. The knife found at the scene matched the description provided by the store employee as a pocketknife. The blade of the knife was found extended.
There were no other injuries reported. The four SLCPD officers who used deadly force have been placed on standard paid administrative leave. This case is being investigated by Salt Lake County OICI Protocol Team 4, which is led by the West Jordan Police Department. Media and community members should refrain from attempting to estimate the number of shots fired using sound references. The total number of rounds fired during this incident will be determined and may be released by the protocol team upon the conclusion of the investigation. No further information on this case is being released. Neither the PIO nor the On-Duty Watch Commander are available for interviews.
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