Man charged with murdering deputy was angry he was pulled over, officer testifies

FILLMORE — Roberto Miramontes Roman was on edge well before Millard County sheriff's deputy Josie Greathouse Fox pulled him over.

As Roman and Ryan Greathouse took a drive and smoked some methamphetamine, Roman told him that if a car they could see in the distance turned out to be a police vehicle, he planned to open fire, testified Utah County Sheriff's Sgt. Matt Higley.

"He made statements that he would shoot at police officers, that it would not be a good night to be a police officer," Higley said Roman told him in an interview.

The two parted ways, and Fox, Ryan Greathouse's younger sister, initiated a traffic stop on Roman's vehicle within minutes. She was found dead in the roadway soon after by her patrol sergeant.

Fourth District Judge Donald Eyre on Tuesday ordered Roman, 38, to stand trial for capital murder in Fox's death. Prosecutors have filed notice that they intend to seek the death penalty.

Higley said Roman also told him that he became angry when he realized that he was being followed by a police officer, but he took care to stay in his lane and follow the speed limit. When the police officer turned on her emergency lights, Roman apparently snapped.

"He said he became very angry," Higley said. "He thought the reason he was being stopped was because he was Mexican. He pulled on to the side of the road and said he heard what he described as a mean voice saying 'license and registration.' He said as soon as he saw the officer in the corner of his eye, he raised the gun onto his left shoulder and fired two or three rounds."

The weapon was an AK-47.

It wasn't until Fox screamed that Roman even realized the police officer was a woman, according to what he told Higley. The sergeant said Roman left the scene immediately, but considered going back to call 911. He eventually decided that the officer would be able to use her radio to get the help she needed.

But Fox died soon after being shot twice in the chest, chief medical examiner for Utah Todd Grey testified. He said that while neither shot was instantly lethal, both caused serious injuries that would have become fatal in minutes. When Millard County Sheriff's Sgt. Rhett Kimball found Fox's body, he said there was no sign of life.

Defense attorney Steve McCaughey said he does not believe Roman knew at the time of the shooting that Fox and Greathouse were siblings.