By Aaron Falk
A former West Valley City police
officer charged with reckless endangerment for shooting at a fleeing suspect
said he believes he was justified in firing his weapon and plans to fight the
misdemeanor charge.
Jared Cardon, 40, pleaded not guilty
Monday in 3rd District Court to the single count. Cardon, the first Utah police
officer charged in a police shooting since 2006, then made his way to another
Salt Lake City courtroom. There, Cardon defended himself as the man he shot at
stood for sentencing. "I did feel fear at that time," Cardon told
Judge William Barrett. "More than that, I was concerned for the safety of
the citizens of West Valley City."
On May 24, 2011, Cardon was
finishing up a shift with a traffic stop near 5275 W. 3500 South, when he heard
a crash across the street. Cardon said he made his way into the street to get a
better view and saw Jose Alberto Contreras fleeing the scene of the crash and
driving directly toward him.
Cardon fired multiple shots at
Contreras.
Salt Lake County District Attorney
Sim Gill later determined the shooting was unjustified under the law. The
investigation included interviews with Contreras and two witnesses, who said
the man tried to drive around Cardon — not directly at him.
Prosecutors have said Cardon radioed
for backup, then 18 seconds later reported that Contreras was fleeing. Cardon
said he had fired three shots — two at the vehicle and one at the vehicle’s
tire. One witness said Cardon moved toward Contreras’ car as if "to get a
better shot," a district attorney’s report stated.
Outside the courtroom, Cardon, who
has a preliminary hearing set for next month, said he still feels he was
justified in shooting at Contreras.
"This was something that took
three seconds," defense attorney Lindsay Jarvis said. "It took the
DA’s office months to investigate. Quite frankly, they should be ashamed of
themselves."
Contreras, 22, pleaded guilty in
February to a third-degree felony count of aggravated assault and a misdemeanor
count of failing to stop at an officer’s command. On Monday, Barrett sentenced
the man to 36 months of probation.