OGDEN — Ogden City police released the name of a man fatally shot by police Wednesday after they say he broke into a Roy medical clinic and then attacked officers with a knife.
About 1:50 a.m., Donald Lee Joseph, 37, allegedly broke into the Tanner Clinic, 3443 W. 5600 South, through a window he’d broken with a hammer while wearing a mask that covered most of his face, police said.
Police released Joseph’s name Friday and said the officer-involved incident is still under investigation.
A woman who was cleaning the building after hours Wednesday called 911 after she heard the break-in and barricaded herself inside a room, according to police.
When Ogden police and officers from neighboring jurisdictions arrived on the scene, they decided not to call SWAT officers and entered the building immediately, police said, as they were concerned about the woman in the building.
“She was in a terrible situation,” Roy Police Chief Carl Merino said on Wednesday.
Joseph was in the hallway holding a hammer when officers entered the building, and he did not comply with police orders when they tried to get him to surrender, police said. Officers also used a beanbag gun on Joseph.
Instead, Joseph ran away, and when officers followed him he came out of a room and advanced on the officers while holding a knife, police said.
The situation, as well as how close Joseph was, required officers to use their guns, according to police. An Ogden officer fired several rounds, authorities said. Investigators believe another officer from another police department also fired their weapon during the exchange, but that was still under investigation Wednesday.
A police dog bit Joseph’s leg while he was shot and he fell down with the knife still in his hand, authorities said. First aid was performed on Joseph once he released the knife, police said.
Joseph was transported to a hospital where he died of his injuries, according to police. Neither the woman who called 911 nor any officers who responded were injured in the incident, according to police. Joseph also had possession of stolen narcotics from the clinic, according to officers.
The Ogden officer who shot Joseph was placed on standard paid leave pending the outcome of the investigation into the shooting by Weber County Attorney’s Office. Officers were wearing body cameras during the incident, authorities said.
