Alleged gang member accused of running over police officer

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — An alleged gang member is accused of running over a Unified Police officer as he tried to flee arrest Friday night in South Salt Lake.

Tyson Yellowbear, 39, was booked on charges of attempted murder and aggravated assault, according to documents filed in 3rd District Court.

Officers went to a home on East Helm Avenue Friday evening to arrest Yellowbear on a federal warrant. He was known to Unified's Metro Gang Unit from a previous arrest in which he fled with a gun.

As officers monitored the area, they saw Yellowbear get into a truck and begin to drive out of a parking lot. One of the officers attempted to block the eastbound exit and dropped a spike strip to stop the truck.

But as Yellowbear began to turn westbound, he “suddenly turned around,” quickly accelerated and struck the officer at the eastbound exit, according to a probable cause affidavit.

The officer was “thrown over the hood” of the truck and pushed across the street, the documents state, noting that he was struck with such force that he broke a connector on his police radio and dropping the pistol magazines from his bulletproof vest.

Yellowbear did not stop, but continued driving, heading west on Helm Avenue into oncoming traffic. A second police officer, who saw the first officer being hit, then rammed his patrol vehicle into Yellowbear's truck.

The officer was seriously injured in the crash, the affidavit said, adding that he will require surgery. Yellowbear was also injured.

Yellowbear still tried to run away, but the two injured officers chased after him. Police then apprehended Yellowbear, but court documents say he fought with officers and did not obey commands.

In an interview with police, Yellowbear said he was driving the truck when the first officer was struck, but said he did not hit him intentionally.

Yellowbear was out on bail for a home burglary, according to court documents. He was booked back into the Salt Lake County Jail Friday evening.