For the second time in a little more than a week, Salt Lake police officers fired on a man Friday who was trying to run from them.
In the latest shooting just before 1 a.m., 27-year-old Wesley Scott was wounded after a traffic stop went bad.Scott, who had injuries to his cheek and ankle, was taken to St. Mark's Hospital where he was expected to be released later Friday.
Authorities remain uncertain if the scratch to Scott's cheek and the injury to his ankle were caused by gunfire or flying glass and debris from the car, Salt Lake Police Sgt. Jerry Mendez said.
The trouble started when an officer, whose name has not been released, spotted a car speeding at 900 South and 700 East. Police say the officer stopped the car near 2300 East and approached the motorist, later identified as Scott.
Scott opened the car door, put the car in reverse and the door caught the officer, police said.
A police report indicated the officer was dragged 175 feet and was firing his duty weapon before he managed to extricate himself.
The car then fled east on I-80 until it was stopped at 4837 S. Memory Lane (2000 East).
The officer was uninjured, police said.
Last week, two officers fired on Christopher J. Winderlin, 27, as he crouched under a porch and appeared to be going for a gun.
Although initially listed in critical condition, an LDS Hospital spokesman said Winderlin was in satisfactory condition Friday.
In Sandy earlier this year, Scott Bush, 21, died after being shot while he was dragging a police officer. That officer was cleared of any criminal wrongdoing by the Salt Lake District Attorney's Office.