Man who fled after shooting conviction re-arrested

ST. GEORGE — Police have arrested a man they say escaped while being taken to a treatment center and had been on the run for three weeks.

A man who investigators say helped his friend avoid arrest during that time is also now in custody.

Gavin David Williams, 20, was charged with several crimes, including robbery and attempted murder, after police say he shot another man during a low-level drug deal in southern Utah on January 23, 2023. On May 9, he pleaded guilty. for aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony, and in exchange, a charge of attempted murder was dismissed.

Williams' conviction carried a sentence of five years to life in prison. But an agreement was reached that he would become a resident at Other Side Academy, a residential treatment center in Salt Lake City.

“This program is available as an alternative to those who are at risk of long-term incarceration as well as those seeking a change from the life they have chosen in the past. Many of those seeking to enter the academy are convicts, drug addicts, or homeless people,” the organization’s website states. “The Other Side Academy is not for those looking for a quick fix to a life of bad habits. A student commits to 30 months in residence, and in many cases, this in lieu of serving a sentence from prison.”

Williams was following a “zero tolerance” supervision plan, according to an Adult Probation and Parole report filed in 5th District Court.

But on May 10, the day after his conviction, “Mr. Williams was being transported to Other Side Academy by members of its staff when he opened the door and (ran) into downtown Salt Lake City,” the report said. “It would appear that Mr. Williams has no intention of participating in or completing the Other Side Academy program.”

A warrant was issued for his arrest and “various law enforcement entities began attempting to locate and apprehend Gavin,” according to court documents. The U.S. Marshals Violent Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team found Williams on May 31 and booked him into the Salt Lake County Jail. He is now expected to return to court on Thursday.

On June 3, one of Williams' friends, Travis Alan Dickey, 30, of Hurricane, was charged in 5th District Court with obstruction of justice, a second-degree felony, after allegedly helping Williams avoid being captured.

According to the arrest warrant issued for Dickey, investigators received information on May 17 that Williams was heading to a residence in St. George to gather some of his belongings.

“AP&P personnel had been positioned in the area waiting for Gavin…so that we could move in and apprehend him. It had been several hours, and it was past his arrival time,” the affidavit states. “At that time I followed up with our sources and found out that Mr. Travis Dickey had learned that we knew Gavin was coming to town and told him to stay away.”

The Washington County District Attorney's Office subpoenaed Dickey's phone records and discovered several calls and text messages between Dickey and Williams on May 17, the affidavit states.

The charges against Dickey were made public until he was located and arrested the next day.