UPDATE 11:40 p.m. appended at the close of this report.
CEDAR CITY – A motorcyclist is in custody of Cedar City police tonight after fleeing an attempted traffic stop, shooting another motorcyclist and colliding with a vehicle.
It all happened within a range of a few blocks around 5:40 p.m. when a Cedar City Police Officer attempted to stop a motorcyclist for a moving violation, Cedar City Police Admin. Sgt. Jimmy Roden said. Instead of stopping for the officer, the motorcyclist – James Alan Reynolds – turned around and headed in the opposite direction with the officer continuing to try to get him to stop.
As Reynolds rode north on Main Street, Roden said the officer noticed he was in possession of a firearm.
Reynolds then allegedly fired the weapon multiple times at another motorcyclist who was also traveling north in the same direction. Roden said that the 21-year-old victim was struck with multiple rounds from Reynold’s weapon.
The shooting occurred at about 800 North Main Street, he said, where “the victim’s motorcycle left the roadway and crashed.”
Delaina Dutton witnessed part of the pursuit, and described it in an email to St. George News:
I saw the motorcycle as I was leaving Lind with a cedar city police car right on his tail. We pulled over in front of the park so they could pass and I remember thinking he was stupid for not stopping. Then in my rear view I saw him blow through the red light and the cop followed suit. We pulled back out on our way and got down to just about la fiesta the restaurant. On main and every sheriff in town came screaming up toward us lights and sirens. we pulled over and I could see to my right a guy laying in the grass and first responders were attending to him. We finally managed to get out of the way, literally we were ten feet away, and kept heading home I happened to look in the parking lot of MCO tires and saw the motorcycle on it’s side under a white Ford pick up.
With the officer still in pursuit, the suspect Reynolds continued riding southbound on Main Street to Center Street where he collided with a westbound passenger vehicle carrying two people, ending the chase.
The collision caused minor injuries to the two occupants of the passenger vehicle and to Reynolds. Roden said the vehicle occupants were taken to Valley View Medical Center by private transport.
The shooting victim is a 21-year-old man whose name is not being released at this time. According to a written statement issued by the Police Department, and confirmed by an Iron County Dispatch officer at 9:50 p.m., the victim was transported to Dixie Regional Medical Center where he is receiving treatment for his injuries and he is listed in serious condition.
The Police Department has no indication at this time that either the suspect or the shooting victim was involved in any kind of motorcycle gang, Roden said, also that they do not have any reason to believe that anyone else was involved.
“Right now,” Roden said, “it appears to be deliberate, he fired multiple shots at the victim and struck him multiple times. We do not know the motive but we do believe it was deliberate.”
Reynolds is in police custody and is being treated for his injuries at Valley View Medical Center in Cedar City.
Criminal charges have not yet been filed but will be forthcoming. When Reynolds is released from the hospital, he will be booked into the Iron County Correctional Facility.
This is an open case and officers were still investigating the crime scene at 8:45 p.m.
“Scary stuff for our sleepy town,” Dutton said.
UPDATE 11:40 p.m. According to Iron County Sheriff’s Office Inmate Bookings website, James Alan Reynolds, 55, was booked into Iron County Correctional Facility this evening on charges of second-degree felony failure to respond to officer’s signal to stop – fleeing – causing property damage, bodily injury; class-B misdemeanor discharging of firearm from a vehicle, class-B misdemeanor reckless driving, third-degree felony possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person, and second-degree felony murder II.
The felony murder II charge encompasses intent to murder whether or not the victim died, Iron County Dispatcher Karen Orton said. The shooting victim in this incident remains listed in serious condition at Dixie Regional Medical Center, she said.
Ed. note: Persons arrested are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.
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Twitter: @JoyceKuzmanic
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2013, all rights reserved.
This is more what you would expect to see in L.A. than in C.C! I wonder if this fool thought that by killing another biker, he could get the cops off his tail, thinking they would stop to assist the down rider. Too bad this jerk off wasn’t killed in the crash.
U guys really need to stop. U dont even know the half of the story and if u did u might think a bit different. I’m not saying he did a good thing by any means but if u knew why he did it u would have a bit different view.
Hey IDIOT WAKE UP! It doesn’t matter in the least WHY he did it, it is WHAT he did that matters. Are you really this stupid?
Wooooohooooooo and the village idiot speaks
Are you serious? Do you really think there’s a valid excuse for running from the police and shooting an innocent guy who was posing no imminent threat to your life or well being? What’s wrong with you? As a retired 30 year cop from a major city, this is why I’m so in favor of every law abiding citizen being armed. Granted, it doesn’t sound like the victim would have had a chance to defend himself in this case, but by and large society is much better off when violent criminals like this are put in the ground. A dead criminal NEVER commits another offense. Take charge of your own safety; the police do the best that they can but they can’t be everywhere. It does sound like they did a great job in this case, but it’s too bad the piece of trash survived the crash. He’s bound to hurt someone else someday, either in prison or when he’s eventually back on the street. You sound like the people who are the problem with our country today; nothing is ever anybody’s fault and there’s always an excuse for bad behavior. For God’s sake, let’s not ever expect anyone to take responsibility for their own actions.
I hope someone wiped that smirk off his face.
Has this been updated any further? I am hearing word that the victim is an acquaintance of mine who is actually 25 so I am just hoping its not him 🙁
As recently as yesterday, Concerned, Cedar City police are referring to the victim as a 21-year-old male. They have not released his name. We expect to report further as the investigation proceeds. I can feel your concern, I hope this helps a little bit.
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According to a friend of mine the victims name is Austin Sharp. Nether the victim or the accused is in a gang.
I would like to see the police dash cam video of this incident. It would be crazy!
I wish to extend my sympathy to the family of the shooting victim. Jim is my brother. If you could know his medical history and personal life story you might understand what happened. I am sorry for the family of an innocent young man. Sorry too for Jims’ family. We can only ask why? And pray.
I guess you just don’t understand. His medical history, nor his personal life story, make one iota of difference. He did what he did. This wasn’t a “mistake” or an “oversight,” or even a “medical problem.” This was a self centered man who decided to put his own needs and desires over the life of someone else. Society needs to be protected from people like him.
The bleeding hearts have made it almost impossible to commit someone to a mental health facility. So when you have someone that needs to be removed from society, for the protection of society, choices are limited.
It’s time for the bleeding hearts to decide just who they really need to bleed for.
Do you really think that your brother is the only person on earth with problems?
Nobody cares what you think.
Kathleen, I genuinely extend my sympathies to your family as well as the family of your brother’s victim. I would like to respectfully ask you if your brother had such a bad medical history and life story why he was allowed to be on the street where something like this could happen? Truly, I mean no disrespect, but I saw this far too many times in my career and was never able to understand why someone with the problems you mention your brother had wasn’t either incarcerated or institutionalized for his own safety as well as that of society in general. I know how these comment forums often go and I hope you believe me when I say this is a genuine concern of mine and I’m in no way trying to be sarcastic. Good luck to you ma’am.
He did not shoot to get the cop off his tail. James sufferers from bipolar disorder lithium defficient and skitsophrenia. He says that when the other biker pulled up next to Jim at a light…and looked at him.
James saw pure evil. Demonic evil.
He says he knew he had to take him out. It’s terribly sad for everyone involved. Our family is devastated.
He is my kid brother. Thank god no one died. Pray he gets the help he needs.
Truly a sad for all families involved, especially Mr. Sharp, Kathleen and Camille, Jim was my best friend growing up in Cedar and attending Cedar High. I was hoping through the years he would outgrow his crazy kid stuff we all had at one time. My best to the victim and a hello to Jimbo, and to all you who wish evil on Jim, well I think you know what I would say to you!