Two men removed from a West Valley home following an eight-hour standoff were booked in connection with an incident in which several rounds were fired at a West Valley police car Saturday.
A 19-year-old man was booked for investigation of attempted homicide, said Lt. Ed Spann, SWAT commander. A second man, 22, was booked for investigation of attempted homicide, fleeing from a police officer, possession of a firearm by a restricted person and discharging a firearm.About 3:40 a.m., West Valley police officer Todd Gray attempted to make a traffic stop on a car traveling near 4300 South and 3200 West with at least two male passengers, said West Valley Police Lt. Guy B. Dodge. The car failed to stop and a chase ensued.
The chase ended four minutes later when the car came to a dead end at 4324 S. 3680 West, Dodge said. One of the suspects fired a gun about five times towards the approaching police car.
Gray was not injured by the gunfire, but his patrol car was hit 31 times by bullets like those carried by law enforcement officers, Spann said.
Two men emerged from the vehicle, believed to be stolen, and fled across a field in different directions, Spann said.
The younger man was taken into custody about 4:04 a.m., Spann said. A 9-mm pistol was found in the snow not far from where he was arrested. The man also had a warrant for his arrest in connection with receiving a stolen vehicle and drug paraphernalia.
The older man also had an arrest warrant for a parole violation.
A third man was located about ten minutes after the arrest but apparently ran into a house at 3564 W. Meadow-brook Dr. (4265 South).
There were other people at the house, and a mediator arrived to persuade the occupants to leave. When they refused, police obtained a search warrant.
The process of removing people from the house was completed about 3 p.m. as police took occupants out one or two at a time and made sure nobody remained inside.
Officers also placed tear gas into the home to ensure everyone was out, Spann said.
It did not appear that anybody was being held hostage, Dodge said.
"This is a win because nobody got hurt," Dodge said.
In all, seven people were taken into custody for investigation connected with the shooting.
Police impounded the suspect vehicle and found one firearm inside that is believed to have been the one used in the shooting, Dodge said.
Spann says authorities discovered a sawed-off shotgun and drug paraphernalia inside the home.