St. George officer cleared in shooting

ST. GEORGE — A police officer who shot and killed a man while investigating a domestic dispute was justified in using deadly force, according to Washington County Attorney Brock Belnap.

Belnap said his review of the investigation into the death of Craig J. Steiner shows that officer William J. Sweetwood's use of force was "lawful" given the fact that Steiner had pointed a rifle at Sweetwood and officer David S. Slack.

The rifle, and a handgun found in Steiner's waistband following the shooting, were later identified as pellet guns.

On Oct. 9, Sweetwood and Slack were investigating a text message Steiner sent to one of his wife's friends, said investigators. In the message, Steiner claimed he had murdered his wife by cutting her throat.

When the officers arrived at the Steiner home, investigators said Darla Steiner told them her husband hoped his text message would prompt police to "come over and shoot him."

Craig Steiner then came out of the house holding a gun, Belnap said.

Darla Steiner said she retreated into the street as both officers took cover and ordered Craig Steiner to drop his gun. She told investigators that she repeatedly told the police the gun was not real.

Neither officer remembered hearing the woman yelling at them, Belnap wrote, and a neighbor who witnessed the shooting said Craig Steiner was advancing on the officers "in a threatening manner."

Slack was running out of room to maneuver and was about to fire on Craig Steiner when Sweetwood fired his Glock pistol once.

The single shot ended the confrontation. Sweetwood and Slack secured the rifle and pistol and performed CPR on Craig Steiner, who died at Dixie Regional Medical Center.

— Geoff Liesik