Hearing set for ex-officer accused in shooting

PROVO — A Salt Lake attorney has been retained to represent the former cop accused of shooting his estranged wife's boyfriend before firing at Lehi police officers arriving at the scene.

The family of Arthur Henderson, who appeared in court Tuesday for a hearing, hired attorney Ed Brass to fight the criminal charges stemming from the Jan. 27 incident. Among other charges, Henderson faces five first-degree felony charges of attempted aggravated murder.

Henderson, who was clean shaven and clad in a jail jumpsuit for the hearing, was assigned a public defender after a judge found him indigent on Feb. 6.

Henderson's family approached Brass about a week later.

Brass had previously represented Henderson in Justice Court on a class B misdemeanor charge of simple assault. A jury convicted Henderson, but Brass had filed an appeal to transfer the case to a state court.

That assault case has been put on the back burner while the recent charges are adjudicated. A daylong preliminary hearing is schedule for March 31.

Brass said he neither plans to call any witnesses nor have Henderson take the stand at that time.

In addition to the attempted aggravated murder charges, Henderson is charged with aggravated assault, criminal mischief and three charges of unlawful discharge of a firearm — all third-degree felonies.

The charges were filed following the late-January incident that ended when Lehi police felled Henderson with bullets to the knee and foot.

Prior to the shooting, according to police, Henderson chased his estranged wife, Natalie Barnes Henderson, and her boyfriend, Craig Trimble, through a Lehi neighborhood, firing as he drove his pickup truck. After he rammed their car, Henderson got out and shot Trimble, who was driving, in the leg and stomach.

He then turned and shot at Lehi police officers, sending one bullet through a patrol car's windshield and one bullet through a civilian car.

Both Trimble and Henderson were taken to the hospital but have since been released.

Almost a dozen family members and friends filled a bench in the courtroom on Tuesday to show their support. They plan to continue attending his court dates.

"There was a big smile on his face," said Annie Martin, Henderson's sister. "He (looked) happy we were here to support him. He is a great guy. This was out of character."

Family members also say they are concerned about the factors that led to the shooting.

Henderson was fired from his job as a Lehi police officer in July 2004 and his wife filed for a divorce in January 2005.

Family members said they want to ensure that Henderson gets psychological and emotional counseling.

"We are all trying to get together to get him the help he needs," said brother Louie Henderson.

Henderson is being held in the Salt Lake County Metro Jail because he was formerly a correctional deputy at the Utah County Jail.

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E-mail: sisraelsen@desnews.com