South Jordan Police officers will not be charged after shooting man with a knife

SOUTH JORDAN — The Salt Lake County District Attorney is declining to file charges against the two South Jordan Police officers who shot and killed a man with mental health issues, who was armed with a knife, last June.

Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill laid out the details of the incident that happened on the morning of June 15, 2024. He said South Jordan Police were called to the area near the baseball park on West Skye Drive after they received reports of a suspicious man looking into car windows.

When officers Jace Tanaka and Aaron Bass showed up, they found Marcelo Gutierrez sitting in the dugout.

“Officers approached the dugout and made verbal contact with Mr. Gutierrez, who told them he had lost his car keys or locked his car keys in his car,” Gill said. “Mr. Gutierrez then stood up holding a knife, a fixed blade Gerber knife with five-inch blade, in his left hand. The officers immediately began commanding him to put the knife down, drew their handguns, and began retreating.”

But he kept walking slowly toward officers. They continued to back up, and call out to him time and time again, asking him to drop the knife. They tazed him three times, but it did not seem to stop him. He still kept walking slowly toward them. This went on for several minutes. At one point, Gill said Gutierrez used the knife on their car’s tire. Then eventually after Gutierrez quickened his pace, they fired 14 shots at him.

The medical examiner determined Gutierrez was hit six times. Despite being injured, he kept walking toward them and he did not drop the knife. The officers could see he was injured, and they continued to plead and beg him to let it go.

“You need us to help you now, just let us help you,” Tanaka pled with him.

Eventually more first responders showed up and helped pin him down using a ballistic shield. They had to pry the knife out of his hand at that point. Gutierrez was then taken to the hospital, but he later died from his injuries.

Why no charges will be filed against the South Jordan Police officers 

District Attorney Sim Gill said after looking back at all the body cam footage, he is not going to file charges. He said a jury is likely to find the officers’ decision to use deadly force justified in this case.

After the incident, the family explained that Gutierrez had been diagnosed with mental health issues. 

Gill said this case is another example of why police departments need more training and policies on how to handle mental health issues. He estimated that about 30 to 40 percent of incidents like these are usually related to mental health.

“I’ve said this before. Every agency should have an articulate protocol of how you are going to deal with someone who has mental health issues … more than the once a year training that you do,” Gill urged.

Gill went on to say that even though the officers had justification, they always grieve the loss of life when something like this happens. 

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