This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2010, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Weber County Attorney Dee Smith on Tuesday said his office won't file criminal charges against an officer who fatally shot a suspect wielding a golf club.
Roy police Sgt. Troy Burnett shot and killed Todd E. Blair on Sept. 16 as the Weber-Morgan Narcotics Strike Force served a "no knock" search warrant on a home near 5900 South and 2600 West in Roy.
The strike force had been investigating Blair for several months when the warrant was granted, Smith wrote in a statement. As officers walked into the home, they shouted the words "police" and "search warrant" several times, Smith wrote. Blair appeared in the living room of the home with a golf club raised above his head, advancing toward the officers in an "aggressive manner," Smith wrote.
Burnett then shot Blair three times.
"Under the facts of this case, Sergeant Burnett was justified in the use of deadly force," said the news release. "Todd Blair was advancing towards him with the golf club raised above his head in an aggressive manner. The appearance of this weapon, the aggressive manner in which it was raised, the close proximity of appearance of Mr. Blair to Sergeant Burnett and the fact that he was advancing towards Sergeant Burnett justified the use of deadly force."
Police have said they found heroin and methamphetamine inside the home.