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- A 27-year-old arson suspect was shot and killed by police after a chase.
- The man fired at officers during a pursuit in three counties.
- He had previously been accused of assaulting his roommate at the same place he allegedly set on fire.
RIVERTON — A man wanted in connection with an arson investigation in Salt Lake City fired multiple rounds at officers while leading police on a chase from Orem to Salt Lake City to Riverton that started late Thursday and went into early Friday, police say.
At the end of the pursuit, 27-year-old Tanner Merril Cottrell was shot and killed by officers from multiple jurisdictions.
"This was an extremely high-risk situation, and the officers involved responded as they are trained — to protect our communities and each other," Salt Lake City Police Chief Mike Brown said in a statement. "I fully support them, and I am grateful for their courage, bravery and professionalism under such intense circumstances."
Cottrell was wanted for starting a fire at 2665 E. 2100 South on Wednesday.
"During the investigation, the Salt Lake City Police Department learned the suspect was likely in possession of body armor and firearms," Salt Lake police announced Friday.
About 11:30 p.m. Thursday, Cottrell was located by police in Orem.
"Information about the suspect's location was shared with law enforcement throughout Utah and Salt Lake counties," police said.
After officers made contact with Cottrell, he took off in a a stolen Ford F-350 and a chase ensued. The pursuit went all the way into North Salt Lake and around Salt Lake County.
"During the pursuit, Cottrell fired multiple rounds at pursuing law enforcement," Salt Lake police said. "In response, several law enforcement agencies dispatched their armored tactical vehicles."
Officers followed Cottrell into North Salt Lake and back into Salt Lake City "where there were additional reports of shots being fired from Cottrell's vehicle," according to Salt Lake police.
Officers were able to successfully spike the tires on the truck Cottrell was in, but he continued driving. About 12:30 a.m. Friday, the chase ended when the truck crashed at 124000 S. Redwood, flipped and landed on its top.
At that point, police say there was some kind of confrontation and Cottrell was shot and killed by officers from six agencies, including Salt Lake police, Taylorsville police, Unified police, Utah County sheriff's deputies, the Utah Highway Patrol and West Valley police.
Cottrell was pronounced dead at the scene. No other injuries were reported.
According to court records, Cottrell lived at the home that he allegedly setting on fire. Fire officials said that at the time of the fire the structure was vacant.
But on Dec. 11, Cottrell was charged with causing property damage, a second-degree felony; aggravated assault, a third-degree felony; and drug possession, a class A misdemeanor, for a domestic violence incident at the same address.
Cottrell got into an argument with his roommate and the roommate asked Cottrell to leave.
"(The roommate) stated that he walked Cottrell out to his car parked in the attached garage and collected the house key and the garage door opener from him. (He) stated that Cottrell began backing out of the garage then suddenly put his car in drive and 'charged at (him), almost hitting him," according to charging documents.
After Cottrell backed into the street, he "charged" at his roommate a second time, "during which he struck the garage door, damaging the house and (the roommate's) car parked inside," the charges state.
The two men had lived together for more than a year, police say. When officers found Cottrell and arrested him, they reported finding a baggie of methamphetamine.
Cottrell was released to pre-trial services on Dec. 23 and ordered not to have contact with the roommate or take drugs or alcohol, according to court records. He was due back in court Jan. 13.
