Jeffrey R. Nielson

Deadly force

A West Valley City policeman, who was on his way to work, spotted Nielson slumped over the wheel of an SUV. Nielson and three officers who also arrived, spoke calmly to one another, without a heated word, as the officers investigated him for an alleged narcotics violation. But as officers removed Nielson's handcuffs to swap them with a different pair, Nielson ran to his SUV. The officers grappled with him, trying to pull him out--but within seconds, one officer saw Nielson had a knife and shot him five times, killing him.