Carlene Coombs, Daily Herald

A man is in custody after reportedly intentionally hitting and killing a Santaquin police officer Sunday morning.

Around 6:30 a.m., authorities conducted a traffic stop after receiving a reports of someone standing on the back of a semitruck on Interstate 15 near milepost 244. According to police, the driver of the semi fled the scene heading north on I-15. After driving a short distance, the suspect, identified as 42-year-old Micheal Aaron Jayne, allegedly turned the truck around heading in the wrong direction of travel toward the Santaquin police officer and a Utah Highway Patrol trooper. The driver hit the Santaquin officer and his squad car as well as the UHP trooper’s car.

The Santaquin officer died on the scene from the impact, police said.

Lt. Cory Slaymaker of the Spanish Fork Police Department, which is assisting with the incident, said the man took off on foot and allegedly stole several vehicles, including a white Ford F-150 pickup truck out of the Sanpete County area.

At around 11:45 a.m., it was reported that Jayne had been captured in the Vernal area after crashing the stolen truck.

Carlene Coombs, Daily Herald

“Our entire department is hurt and the family of the officer is hurt because of a senseless act by one individual,” said Lt. Mike Wall of the Santaquin Police Department during a press conference Sunday afternoon. “We have family members who will miss their father and their nearing wedding.”

Santaquin Mayor Daniel Olson describing Sunday as difficult day that has rocked a small, tight-knit community.

“I don’t know that I can say much more than that. I am so proud of our city, so proud of those that serve the citizens,” Olson said during the press conference. “People throughout the United States have contacted me this morning, and along with the governor, to let us know that they are aware of the situations and they support us 100%.”

Portions of I-15 in Santaquin as well as U.S. Highway 40 near Vernal were shut down as police continued gathering information.

Details about the fallen officer have not yet been released.

Carlene Coombs, Daily Herald

A procession of law enforcement vehicles transported the officer’s body on I-15 from Santaquin to the state medical examiner’s office in Taylorsville on Sunday afternoon.

In the evening, Gov. Spencer Cox addressed the public to express his condolences to the officer’s family and commend the work of the responding officers who jumped into action to assist in apprehending the suspect. “I want to thank those who engaged this morning after this tragedy (in) the manhunt that went on and so quickly were able to locate a person who had already traveled hundreds of miles and make sure that no one else was harmed by this evil and reckless individual,” Cox said, referring to the alleged actions of Jayne. “(I’m) grateful for those who pursued knowing that their lives would be a danger from someone who had already killed and would certainly kill again.”

Cox also echoed the words of Olson in recognizing how incidents of this magnitude impacts rural communities. “This is a small police department with only 15 members in the police department and so these tragedies hit even harder in such a small town. I’ve had an opportunity to talk to the mayor and the chief of police to let them know that the resources of the state of Utah are behind them and to give them our gratitude and condolences,” he said.

First responders in Lehi gather on an overpass above Interstate 15 to pay respects to a Santaquin police officer who was killed Sunday, May 5, 2024.

Police vehicles travel in a procession down Interstate 15 to pay tribute to a Santaquin police officer who was killed Sunday, May 5, 2024.

Micheal Aaron Jayne is accused of hitting and killing a Santaquin police officer Sunday, May 5, 2024, on Interstate 15.

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