Vernal police officer in stable condition after being shot

SALT LAKE CITY — A Vernal City police officer was shot while responding to an incident where reports were made of an intoxicated male who was threatening a neighbor with a firearm.

The shooting happened on Saturday morning after police officers arrived at 750 North approximately 400 East in Vernal, where those reports were made at 11:20 p.m.

According to a press release, when police arrived on scene the suspect, 27-year-old Rookus R. Curry, opened fire on police and their vehicles.

That’s when a VCPD officer was shot multiple times while he was exiting his vehicle. 

Police said the officer who was shot was able to drive himself to a local hospital and then was flown to a hospital on the Wasatch Front. The officer is in stable condition, according to the Department of Public Safety.

Curry fled the scene after police returned fire, striking the suspect during that return fire.

Curry was later apprehended near the scene and was transported to a local hospital. According to police, Curry was then flown to a hospital on the Wasatch Front for further treatment.

Police said a sheriff deputy was also injured in the shooting. That officer sustained minor injuries and was treated at a hospital where he was able to be released.

According to police, the Utah State Bureau of Investigations are investigating the incident.

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