If the SLC officer's shootout was not justified, why are no charges submitted?

Salt Lake City – although a police officer of Salt Lake City was not justified Shooting a suspect who fled last year before a traffic stopNo criminal charges against the official are submitted.

Sim Gill, District Prosecutor of Salt Lake County, announced on Friday that the civil servant involved in the incident in June 2024 “was not legally justified in the application of deadly violence”, but the evidence did not show that he acted “ruthlessly”.

On June 29, two suspects, including Bobby Joe Caster, were accelerated in a truck with violations of the equipment. When a soldier of the Utah Highway Patrol turned to carry out a traffic stop, the men drove away into the truck, which was later abandoned near 5650 West 700 South.

When the officers searched for the suspects by heavy grass on a field, Caster was found by a K9 handler, while another officer fired a round and hit Caster. When Caster was treated on site because of his hand injury, the other suspect was without incidents.

Body Camera video below shows an incident with the officer:

Slcpd officer involved shooting

Gill's report admitted that officials found no “evidence” that pointed out that Caster was armed, and added that it was reasonable to come to the conclusion that the shot, fire [the officer] could not See the thick grass, where Mr. Caster hided on the floor. “

As Gill, it refused to submit criminal charges against the official [the officer] Ruthlessly traded – a necessary element that you can satisfy for a conviction. “