A Utah police officer was fatally struck by a semi-truck during a traffic stop over the weekend and the suspect Michael Aaron Jayne 41 has a lengthy criminal history that includes numerous counts of targeting law enforcement. Jayne has been arrested in connection with the death of the Santaquin officer.
According to court records Jayne was convicted in Oregon in 2009 at age 27 of two counts each of attempted aggravated murder and first-degree assault after leading troopers in a chase and attempting to cause a head-on collision with a police vehicle. He later faced 17 counts in California for assaulting correctional officers and making criminal threats while incarcerated in Shasta County.
During the recent incident, Jayne fled a traffic stop on the highway and then turned around to drive the wrong way striking the Santaquin officer’s vehicle and a Utah Highway Patrol vehicle. The officer died at the scene.
“Because of a senseless act by one individual we have family members who will miss their father at their nearing wedding” Santaquin Police Lt. Mike Wall said at an emotional press conference. “But I can assure you that we as a police department will stand up and will be there and we are one family.”
Following the fatal incident Jayne allegedly stole multiple vehicles to evade law enforcement before being arrested. While in Shasta County prison Jayne was written up 35 times for disciplinary issues and even brought a lawsuit over his disciplinary diet.
