14:38
Dispatch, “Attention all units on … attempting to locate a white Toyota Tundra .. by Utah County Sheriff’s Office. It will be plate No. Delta 870 Echo Charley, in reference to an officer 1033 call. Again attempting to locate a white Toyota Tundra 2003, plate of Delta 870 Eacho Charley …” In Utah the code 1033 is use for an officer and is “Help Me Quick”. Dispatch then continues to contact the agencies not using their dispatch system and continues to initiate the 10/200.
Utah County has a 10-200 containment program that they have setup with the participation of the jurisdictions within Utah County. The objective of the program is to contain and apprehend a fleeing felon prior to the felon leaving Utah County Boundaries. The program has officers in Utah County move into strategically assigned places throughout the county to monitor traffic flow for the fleeing subject. This program is reserved for crimes that put public safety at risk, including homicide, aggravated assault and robbery, rape, kidnapping, and any aggravated felonious crime. Once the program is initiated, a broadcast went out over the South Central Regional Channel as well as dispatch centers for Utah Valley Dispatch, Provo Police Department, Utah Highway Patrol, Orem Police Department, Springville Police Department, Utah Vally University Police Department, Pleasant Grove Police Department, and Brigham Young University Police Department.
The agencies then sent officers to major state road and interstate intersections, as well as to the mouth of the canyons in the area. Within a short time period of the 10-200 being initiated, the I-15 interchanges and state roads are under the watchful eyes of law enforcement. There are also officers watching the mouth of American Fork Canyon, Spanish Fork Canyon, Hobble Creek Canyon, Provo Canyon, and Payson Canyon.
Deputy Sherwood, had finished clearing a traffic accident in Elberta, Utah at 12:30 and was heading to Spanish Fork to get some lunch. He was on his way to Spanish Fork when he heard the 10/200. He then received a phone call from Deputy Shawn Carter a fellow canine handler who give him more information about the ATL and the Code 4. Deputy Carter informed Deputy Sherwood about the shooting and death of Deputy Wride. At that point he heads towards the crossroads of Highway 6 and I-15 in Santaquin.
Thirty Miles north of Eagle Mountain at the Valley Fair Mall in Salt Lake City there is a group of Safety Officers that belong to the State Bureau of Investigations, also know as the SBI, getting ready to initiate an undercover drug buy. While they are preparing for their operation one of the Agents comes over to the group and tells them about the 10-200. Agent Zack Adams has been notified that his friend and comrade Sergeant Cory Wride has been killed and that they are now searching for the suspect vehicle. They quickly abandon their plans and enter their vehicles and start to head towards Utah County. A convoy of black unmarked vehicles with lights and sirens moves its way towards I-15 to give support in finding and bringing his murderer to justice.1
For Agent Zack Adams the call hits home hard, and brings back painful memories. Thirteen years earlier on August 4th, 2001 his brother was also killed in the line of duty during a routine traffic stop in Lehi, Utah. His brother Officer Joseph Adams had pulled over Arturo Javier Scott Welch in Lehi, suspecting him of drunken driving. During the stop, Welch, with a passenger in the vehicle, was found to be in possession of drugs. As Officer Adams was cuffing Welch, there was a confrontation that ensued. Welch drew a gun, and shoot Officer Adams in a volley of gunfire. One of the bullets entered under his arm where his body armor gave no protection. The passenger who was prone on the road called 911 from his cell phone.
Officer Adams watched as Welch fled the scene. Welch was later found collapsed in a Salt Lake County parking lot, he was overcome by injuries sustained after being shot by Officer Adams during the gun fight. Officer Adams was airlifted to LDS Hospital, but despite the efforts of doctors and the EMTs on site he succumbed to his wounds. Officer Adams left behind a wife and a seven-month-old son. Welch later pleads guilty to aggravated murder and is sentenced prison.
- J Adams Interview, December 2023 ↩︎
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