Three people arrested after they opened fire on US Marshal’s officers

SALT LAKE CITY – Three people, including two fugitives, are in police custody after the group reportedly opened fire on US Marshal’s officers trying to arrest them. 

Police reportedly tracked Anthony Welch and Valerie Humphrey to a residence near 500 South Redwood Road Thursday night.  Humphrey had a federal warrant for her arrest, and Welch was wanted by Adult Probation and Parole.  Shortly after officers arrived at that location, shots rang out.

“We knocked and announced who we were.  They knew we were police and they decided their option was to shoot it out with us,” says Matthew Harris, US Marshal for the District of Utah.

As the group opened fire on the US Marshal’s officers, the officers reportedly took cover behind cars or other barricades to protect themselves, and two officers returned fire.  Luckily, no one was hit despite the amount of gunfire.

“Prior to making entry, our team took a barrage of shots,” Harris says.  “We estimate between 10 and 20 shots.”

Harris says they determined it was too dangerous to continue their arrests without support from the Salt Lake County SWAT team.  Eventually, the three people inside surrendered without any further incidents.

The investigation will likely be handed over the FBI, and officers expect all three to face federal charges.

Harris says their V-FAST units don’t go after low-level criminals or non-violent offenders.  He says they go after violent fugitives who have already been arrested multiple times.  This incident reportedly makes for Humphrey’s third arrest, while Welch had been arrested nine times.

“At least 92 percent of these people have a violent criminal history,” he says.  “The only cases that they are working are people who have a violent criminal history or an immediate and imminent threat to the community.”

KSL.com is reporting Harris’ officers recently caught a man who had already been arrested 68 times.