Competency evaluation ordered for Utah man charged with shooting at cops

A competency evaluation was ordered Wednesday for a man suspected of exchanging gunfire with Iron County Sheriff's deputies last December.

Grant Louise Biedermann Jr., 41, is charged in 5th District Court with two counts of first-degree felony attempted aggravated murder, two counts of third-degree felony assault by a prisoner and one count of class B misdemeanor carrying a dangerous weapon while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Biedermann was expected to be in court Wednesday for a preliminary hearing, but attorneys instead asked for the man's competency to be evaluated. A judge granted the request, and set a review hearing for May 13.

Biedermann is accused of engaging in a gun battle on Dec. 13 with an officer at his home, located at 33 N. Main Street in Kannarraville.

According to a probable cause statement, officers were called to the area on a "suicidal subject." When they arrived at Biedermann's residence, they asked the man to come outside, but when Biedermann finally exited the residence, he was carrying a rifle. Officers ordered Biedermann to drop the weapon several times, but he allegedly raised his weapon toward the officers and opened fire, according to court documents.

One officer was struck, while the other officer returned fire. A bullet grazed Biedermann's head, and he was hospitalized before being booked into the Iron County jail.

The injured deputy was struck in the hip, and suffered only minor injuries.

jmiller@sltrib.com

Twitter: @jm_miller