SALT LAKE CITY — Two Salt Lake City Police Department officers are on paid administrative leave following the death of a 50-year-old man Thursday.

The incident is currently under investigation and SLCPD has invoked Officer-Involved Critical Incident protocol. These are the details that police have made public.

According to police, on Thursday at 4:59 p.m., they were called about a man who was reportedly naked, disoriented and going through trash cans near the 800 intersection.
South and 700 East. While officers were en route, another 9-1-1 call informed first responders that the man was shaking.

With information available from community members, Salt Lake City Police Department social workers also responded to the scene.

Police said they found the man in a conscious and breathing state, but not alert. Police say the man appeared very thin, weak and malnourished. Police would also request the Salt Lake City Fire Department and Gold Cross Ambulance to respond for psychological evaluation and medical treatment.

While officers waited for the fire department and ambulance to arrive, police say the man attempted several times to stand up despite instructions to remain seated. Police handcuffed the man shortly before paramedics arrived.

The Gold Cross ambulance would take the man to the hospital, followed by SLCPD and social workers in separate vehicles. First responders say the man’s condition worsened during the ride to the hospital and he would die once there. The official cause of his death has not yet been determined by the medical examiner.

“I am proud of the way our officers handled this incident,” said Salt Lake City Police Chief Mike Brown. “They approached this tragic situation with compassion and took steps to help the man by providing him with clothes and blankets to keep him warm while they waited for paramedics. »

Salt Lake City police say their current investigation suggests no SLCPD officers used deadly force and no officers on scene fought or used physical force with the man at the scene. during their interactions.

The two officers who interacted with the victim have been placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard procedure. West Jordan Police are investigating the death.