The white supremacist accused of gunning down a Utah corrections officer during an escape last week made his first appearance in court today, rolling his eyes and jutting his chin as the judge read the charges against him.
Curtis Michael Allgier, 27, was before 3rd District Court Judge Robert Hilder via video link on eight felonies, including aggravated murder, which carries the possibility of the death penalty.
Allgier is accused of killing officer Stephen Anderson, 60, on June 25 at a University of Utah medical clinic, where Allgier had been escorted for an MRI. After completion of the procedure, the inmate wrested the gun from Anderson during a struggle. Court documents say Anderson was shot in the head and chest.
Police say Allgier then fled the clinic and used the officer's gun to carjack an SUV, ending up a female friend's home near 400 South and 900 West. The friend, Trisha Tower, is accused of hiding Allgier's blood-stained prison jumpsuit and is scheduled to appear today on a first-degree felony charge of obstruction of justice.
Allgier led police from multiple agencies on a high-speed chase that looped the valley and ended at the Arby's at 1700 S. Redwood Road, where authorities say he attempted to kill a police officer and two civilians. Intervention by an Arby's customer, Eric Fullerton — a retired Army paratrooper — led to disarming the inmate, who fled to the manager's office and was captured by police.
At the time of last week's escape, Allgier was in the custody of the Utah State Prison, where he was being housed for a parole violation stemming from confrontation with SWAT officers in Salt Lake County. Police say he was armed with a 9-mm handgun in violation of the conditions of his release and was apprehended after he fell from a hole in a hotel room ceiling he had made and landed on the bathroom floor.
In court Monday, Allgier was represented by Michael Peterson of the Utah Legal Defenders Association. Peterson is a designated "Rule 8" attorney, meaning he is qualified to handle death penalty cases, which by their nature are complex.
Allgier did mumble something about retaining his own attorney, but his words were unclear.
In addition to aggravated murder, Allgier is charged with three counts of attempted aggravated murder, all first-degree felonies; aggravated robbery, disarming a peace officer, aggravated escape, al first-degree felonies and possession of a firearm by a restricted person, a second-degree felony.
Allgier, who is being held without bail, is due in court again on July 13 before Judge Deno Himonas.
E-mail: lindat@desnews.com