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- A team is investigating whether a Provo police officer was distracted by his phone when he hit a pedestrian.
- The officer struck a 50-year-old man crossing the road.
- The Utah County Attorney's Office will ultimately decide whether any laws were violated.
PROVO — As the investigation into a crash involving a Provo police officer and a pedestrian continues, Utah County's Officer Involved Critical Incident team is now looking at whether the officer was on his phone at the time.
On Nov. 11, a 50-year-old man was crossing the road near 1000 S. State when he was struck by a Provo police patrol car. The man was taken to a local hospital in serious condition.
The officer's body camera video shows he was stopped at a traffic light at 5:40 p.m. He then uses his personal phone to send a text message, according to a search warrant affidavit filed in 4th District Court. The officer begins driving again at 5:41 p.m.
"(The officer) remains on his phone during this time with the messaging app open holding the phone in front of him. At (5:41 p.m.) the body-worn camera recording shows a commotion occur. You cannot see the pedestrian in the video recording. (The officer) then immediately pulls to the side of the road, exits his vehicle, and runs to the pedestrian who is seen on the recording laying on the shoulder of the roadway motionless," the affidavit states.
The lighting on the street at the time was dim, according to an earlier search warrant. Another driver who witnessed the crash said the pedestrian walked into the road, and the officer appeared to try and swerve to avoid hitting him.
Investigators also learned that just four hours prior to the incident, police had had contact with the man during a theft investigation and "officers noted that (he) smelt of alcohol and could barely keep his eyes open," the affidavit states.
When the investigation is concluded, it will be handed over to the Utah County Attorney's Office to determine whether any criminal charges are warranted.
