Pleasant Grove gunman involved in standoff released from jail

PLEASANT GROVE, UT — A Pleasant Grove man who reportedly shot at police last week has already been released from jail.

Pleasant Grove man is heading home

The Utah County Attorney’s Office says they filed a motion to keep Robert Clark in jail until he was charged. But that effort failed once a judge ordered him to be released.

Now, Clark’s uncle is speaking out in opposition of the decision to release him.

“We’re definitely dealing with somebody who isn’t stable,” says Bob Carrol. “Who has a history of mental illness.”

Clark was originally booked into the Utah County Jail for investigation of four counts of attempted aggravated murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault, and illegal discharge of a firearm.

“I don’t think a seven-day observation and release is in line with the activities that happened on this property,” explains Carrol.

Multiple shots fired in standoff

He’s referencing the tense six-hour standoff between Clark and police that happened just last Tuesday.

Witnesses claim Clark fired an estimated eight shots into the air with a rifle prior to police arriving at his house.

Once police arrived on scene, additionally shots were fired at four officers.

Eventually, officers used an armored vehicle to breach the house and arrest Clark.

Cops say they’ve been called multiple times to deal with Clark. According to an affidavit, he has a history of “mental illness, domestic violence and drug use.” It goes on to say that “family members of Mr. Clark have called in to report they have knowledge of Mr. Clark not taking his medication for his mental illness for the past several months.”

At the time of the arrest, police requested that Clark be held without bail.

“Clark has failed to take medication for paranoid schizophrenia for several months. Clark has alienated himself from all his family and has stated that he hasn’t left his residence since September of 2020.”