2 charged in Roosevelt after fatal shooting

ROOSEVELT — Two people are facing criminal charges in connection with Wednesday's deadly officer-involved shooting.

Emily Rose Williams, 28, Kearns, is charged in 8th District Court with aggravated burglary, a first-degree felony; theft, a second-degree felony; theft, a third-degree felony; and possession of drug paraphernalia, a class-B misdemeanor.

Christopher John Haymond, 42, of Murray, is also charged in 8th District Court with theft, a second-degree felony.

Roosevelt police believe Williams and Haymond were with Gary M. Wheeler, 44, of Magna, when he stole a pickup truck from an area home early Wednesday morning. They also believe Williams was in the stolen truck with Wheeler when he burglarized Big O Tires in the neighboring town of Ballard.

Roosevelt police officer TJ Bird spotted a broken window at the tire shop about 5:30 a.m., and saw the truck leaving the parking lot. He tried to stop Wheeler. A short chase ensued, with Wheeler ramming Bird's marked patrol car twice, according to Roosevelt Police Chief Rick Harrison.

The second blow — a head-on hit — disabled the patrol car and knocked the truck into a snow bank near 700 South and 400 East. As Bird approached the truck on foot, Wheeler put the vehicle in drive and "attempted to run over" the officer, according to the charges filed against Williams.

Bird responded by firing two shots, which fatally wounded Wheeler, Harrison said.

"From what we know right now, we think (the officer) acted appropriately," the chief said.

Police said the Big O burglary netted Wheeler and Williams a small amount of money and a digital camera.

Williams was uninjured in the shooting. She was booked into the Duchesne County Jail and made her first court appearance Thursday.

Investigators said they developed information that Haymond was involved in the incident as well, and that he had returned to the Wasatch Front. That information was forwarded to the U.S. Marshals Joint Criminal Apprehension Team.

JCAT agents located Haymond and arrested him Thursday in a restaurant parking lot near 400 South and 900 West in Salt Lake City, said supervisory deputy U.S. marshal Jim Phelps. Haymond was taken into custody without incident, Phelps said, and transported to the Duchesne County Jail. His first court appearance is slated for Monday.

Bird, who has been with the Roosevelt Police Department for a year, is on administrative leave, which is standard protocol, Harrison said. Duchesne County Sheriff Travis Mitchell said he expects his department to conclude its investigation into Bird's use of force sometime next week. The information gathered will be forwarded to the Duchesne County Attorney's Office for review, he said.

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