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AMERICAN FORK — A Provo man, who police say stole his impounded car from a lot in Utah County and was later shot by police looking for him in Salt Lake County, is now facing criminal charges for the American Fork incident.
Kevin Mitchell Ballew, 37, was charged Monday in 4th District Court with aggravated burglary, a first-degree felony; unauthorized control of a car for an extended period of time and property damage, third-degree felonies; reckless endangerment, a class A misdemeanor; and theft of services and 20 counts of discharge of a firearm, class B misdemeanors.
On Feb. 2, American Fork police said they stopped Ballew for driving an unregistered vehicle and impounded his car. The Honda Civic was taken to John's Towing, 74 S. 500 East, in American Fork.
Four days later, "after the tow yard had closed, (Ballew) went to the tow yard. (He) broke a window to the office to enter the office, broke open the lock box with the keys, took the car key and took the car," according to charging documents.
When he drove up to the gate, he fired 20 rounds at the lock, then rammed his vehicle through the gate, the charges state.
The next day, the Utah County Major Crimes Task Force and American Fork police tracked down Ballew and the vehicle in South Salt Lake.
After Ballew got out of the car, police approached him, and he ran to a nearby apartment complex near 800 West and 3900 South. Ballew entered an apartment at random with two people, including a boy, inside, according to a search warrant affidavit. Pursuing task force members lost sight of Ballew and ran past the apartment, but were turned around by officers monitoring the scene from the Utah Department of Public Safety helicopter.
Just as Ballew exited the apartment, he was confronted by four officers on the front porch.
"Officers challenged Kevin at gunpoint, and verbal commands were given to Kevin where he then produced a handgun. Several verbal commands were given by police to Kevin to drop the firearm where he then quickly raised the firearm. Kevin was engaged by police where he sustained four gunshot wounds," the warrant states.
At last word, Ballew remained hospitalized. The police shooting is being investigated by West Jordan police. The Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office will review the shooting to determine whether officers were legally justified in using deadly force. As of Monday, no charges had been filed in Salt Lake County.
