Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
- A Rich County man, Cody Latham, was arrested after allegedly firing multiple shots and assaulting a sheriff.
- Latham was arrested for investigation of illegal firearm discharge and assault on an officer.
- He was subdued with a Taser after his wife removed his guns.
LAKETOWN, Rich County — A northern Utah man who police say has a history of mental illness was arrested Wednesday after allegedly forcing a school to go on lockdown and trying to fight the Rich County sheriff.
Cody Latham, 35, was booked into the Rich County Jail for investigation of 15 counts of illegal discharge of a firearm, two counts of assault on an officer, two counts of being a restricted person in possession of a weapon, intoxication and disorderly conduct.
Rich County sheriff's deputies were notified Wednesday that a Laketown resident was possibly suicidal and had sent text messages to his wife stating, "I want the police here, maybe they'll do a kill shot," and "I am not going anywhere, I will shoot," a police booking affidavit states.
Deputies set up a containment around the neighborhood and put a school about a block away from Latham's home on lockdown.
While deputies were watching the house, Latham's wife arrived and said Latham had agreed to come to the front porch unarmed, the affidavit states. She met Latham at the front door and took two loaded guns away from him.
Sheriff Dale Stacey then approached Latham on the porch.
"As soon as the sheriff was in view of Cody he rose to his feet and made a statement to the sheriff to the effect of, 'It's on' and 'Let's go.' Cody then advanced toward the sheriff in an aggressive manner and took wild swings toward him," the affidavit alleges.
As Latham started throwing punches at Stacey a second time, according to the affidavit, the sheriff grabbed him by the wrists.
"Cody continued to punch and fight while I placed my (Taser) to his torso and conducted a drive stun. Cody initially resisted until another deputy arrived at our side and assisted in placing Cody into handcuffs," the arresting deputy wrote in the affidavit.
Deputies found 15 shell casings on the front porch. The affidavit does not say in what direction those shots were fired.
"Some of the empty casings were found to have melted into freshly fallen snow. It is noted that Cody's residence is surrounded on all sides by inhabited structures," according to the affidavit.
Investigators further noted that Latham's wife says he "is prescribed multiple medications to treat numerous mental health issues" and had been in a behavioral unit recently, the affidavit says.
