A Millard County man has been charged with allegedly trying to kill and injure officers with his pickup truck.
George Finlinson, 42, was charged in 4th District Court on Friday with two counts of attempted aggravated murder and nine counts of aggravated assault, as well as assault by a prisoner, failure to stop at the command of an officer, interference with an arresting officer and driving on a revoked license. He could face up to life in prison if convicted on the attempted aggravated murder counts.
The Utah County Sheriff's Office investigated the incidents, and found that the dash cams show Finlinson "intentionally 'hunted' or 'targeted' law enforcement personnel using his vehicle as a weapon," the charges read. "… The speeds and force the suspect used would likely cause serious bodily injury or death."
On July 29, mental health professionals and Finlinson's family asked Millard County deputies to help them take the Oak City man to a doctor, according to the charges.
Deputies and Adult Probation and Parole officers Finlinson already had a warrant for his arrest found him in Oak City and tried to pull him over in his pickup. But despite the lights, sirens and verbal commands to stop, Finlinson kept driving.
They followed him to a dirt road with a dead end. But Finlinson turned around and crashed into the deputies' vehicles while trying to get away, according to the charges.
"At times [Finlinson] would stop and reverse his vehicle ramming into the deputies vehicles. Deputies would try to get away from the suspect but the suspect would chase them with his vehicle," the charges read.
Officers fired shots, striking Finlinson at least once. Still, he fought officers as they moved in to subdue him, according to a statement from the sheriff's office, and one deputy sustained minor injuries.
Deputies eventually subdued him with a Taser and he was taken to a hospital. He was then transferred to Wasatch Mental Health for treatment, and remains there, the charges add.
Finlinson is due to make his first court appearance Aug. 25.
mmcfall@sltrib.com
Twitter: @mikeypanda