Suspect in I-15 shooting named, booked into jail

LAYTON, Utah — Layton Police announced Thursday evening that the suspect involved in Wednesday morning’s officer-involved shooting on southbound I-15 near Hill Field Road has been booked into the Davis County Jail.

Police say 28-year-old Micheal John Buttel has been booked on several charges related to the incident. Police also say he is facing several charges for other crimes. 

The suspect involved in Wednesday’s shooting on the freeway has been booked into jail on numerous charges related to the shooting, a stolen car, and other crimes. He is identified as 28 year-old Micheal John Buttel.

— Layton Police (@laytonpolice) December 2, 2022

The incident began Wednesday morning just before 6:30 a.m. Layton Police received a call about a suspicious vehicle parked in a resident’s driveway in the area of 1400 N. 350 West. 

As officers arrived on the scene, they noticed the suspect asleep in the vehicle. Additionally, they noticed a weapon in his pocket. 

According to a news release from Layton Police, officers were able to wake the suspect to question him about what he was doing there. However, he backed out of the driveway in an attempt to flee. In doing so, he struck two Layton police vehicles. 

The tires on the suspect’s vehicle were spiked at the intersection of SR-193 and University Parkway Blvd. However, the suspect continued to flee westbound, entering the onramp to I-15 southbound. 

Shooting on I-15 southbound

As Layton Police followed the suspect onto southbound I-15, they attempted to slow the flow of traffic to give the suspect space and distance. In the process of doing that, the news release states, the suspect allegedly fired his weapon at the officers.

Law enforcement personnel then conducted a PIT maneuver to end the pursuit. At that point, officers returned fire on the suspect. 

Arrest documents said a Layton detective and a sergeant reportedly fired their weapons after Buttel shot at them. Documents indicated the detective fired one round from a rifle and the sergeant. fired two from a handgun.

In another attempt to escape, the suspect continued southbound on I-15 for a short distance before a second PIT maneuver was conducted to end the chase.

As officers were taking the suspect into custody, they noticed he had been shot in the hip. The suspect was taken by ambulance to Ogden Regional Medical Hospital for treatment. The suspect’s weapon was found on the side of I-15 where the incident ended, according to a news release. 

No other injuries were reported in the incident. The southbound portion of I-15 was closed for several hours Wednesday. 

After he was given his Miranda rights at the hospital, Buttel allegedly admitted to shooting rounds into the air to try and scare police out of chasing him. Police also said he admitted to stealing the vehicle and the gun, and that he didn’t want to stop because he wanted to see his mother.

The Layton officers involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave, while the incident is reviewed. 

Previous police documents show Buttel has been arrested four other times since 2019.

According to arrest documents, the incident caused over $5,000 of damage to police vehicles.

Read more:

• Layton City Police Department arrest wanted suspect after SWAT operation
• Layton police report two attempted child abductions

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