Utah Man’s Death Sparks Investigation After Officer Uses Taser

A tragic incident occurred on Sunday evening when a man died after falling from an overpass in Salt Lake City, Utah, following the use of a Taser by a state trooper. The incident is under investigation by the Utah Department of Public Safety (DPS) and other local authorities.

According to an official statement from the DPS, Utah Highway Patrol troopers responded to reports of a man, identified as Anthony James Valdez, running through traffic on Interstate 15 near 600 North. Troopers attempted to stop him, but he fled, jumping over a barrier on an off-ramp.

“Troopers coordinated to control traffic by attempting a slow down in the area and apprehending the individual to prevent a crash or harm,” said the DPS statement. Despite multiple efforts to stop Valdez, authorities deployed a Taser “to keep him from going back into the roadway,” resulting in his fall from the off-ramp into a residential yard 30 feet below.

Officers from several agencies performed lifesaving measures at the scene, but Valdez was pronounced dead. The DPS did not release his identity in their statement. The Utah Highway Patrol has initiated an Officer-Involved Critical Incident (OICI) protocol investigation, with the West Valley Police Department leading the inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the event.

The West Valley Police Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and DPS confirmed the investigation is ongoing. Valdez’s death has prompted reactions from his family and community members, with many gathering for a vigil in his honor.

In an interview with KUTV, Wilma Berke, Valdez’s mother, expressed her grief and disbelief over the manner of her son’s death. Berke noted that Valdez had three children and one grandchild, describing him as “a jokester” who was “always happy” and “always had a smile on his face.” Friends and family remembered Valdez by lighting candles and releasing balloons near the site of the incident.

Berke stated that police informed her that details of the situation were still unclear, promising to provide her with video footage after the investigation concludes. She shared that Valdez may have been “in distress” at the time of the incident, and questioned the trooper’s decision to use a Taser in such a precarious location.

A fundraising effort has been launched to assist with Valdez’s funeral expenses. Further details are expected following the completion of the investigation by the involved authorities.