Warrant says suspect in Millard deputy shooting wanted to 'shoot a cop'

SALT LAKE CITY — The man accused of killing deputy Josie Greathouse Fox was reportedly heavily armed and had threatened to shoot a cop, according to a newly released search warrant.

"The suspect is reported to be armed with an AK-47 and AR-15 semi-automatic rifles. He has threatened to kill any police officer that stops or approaches him," the document states.

The Deseret News Tuesday obtained a copy of the search warrant that was served hours after Fox's death at a home in Salt Lake City, 1054 W. 300 South, through a Government Records Access Management Act request. The Poplar Grove house has become the center of controversy because of the number of tear gas canisters SWAT teams shot into it and the damage left behind while officers searched for the gunman. The house has been temporarily closed to occupancy by the health department.

But details outlined in the warrant showed why police proceeded with great caution.

Investigators not only spotted a man matching Roberto Miramontes Roman's description, but were told by a relative that he was on the property, according to the warrant. Roman is charged with capital murder in connection with the deputy's death.

On Jan. 5, Millard County sheriff's deputies were watching two vehicles "circling residences" in Delta where there had been recent burglaries, the affidavit for the warrant states. One of those vehicles belonged to Fox's brother, Ryan Greathouse.

Fox stopped the second vehicle about 1 a.m. Two deputies were en route for backup, according to the warrant. When they arrived nine minutes later, Fox was found dead and the vehicle she had pulled over was gone.

Ryan Greathouse told investigators what car Roman was driving and said he had purchased drugs from Roman just minutes before his sister was shot and killed, according to charges filed against Roman.

He also said Roman had told him he would "shoot a cop if they stopped" him, the search warrant states.

Greathouse observed an AK-47 and a Baretta semi-automatic weapon in the car with Roman.

Several other pieces of information later came to police about two locations on the same street in Salt Lake City.

Detectives learned that an orange Corvette they were looking for was parked near 1130 W. 300 South and that "the suspect was hiding" at that location, the warrant states.