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IIOgden Standard-Exammer, Friday, April 8, 1977Watch, Police Admitm■ vM:matir-ofIs,re9,.of!isiin•SinatBy JIM BOARDMANSALT LAKE CITY (AP) -A Salt Lake City '• policeman ; and the partner who accidentally shot him had Mormon dissident Douglas Wallace under surveillance at the time of the shooting, officials acknowledged Thursday. ‘' Wallace ..had told- a news conference on Tuesday that the- officers ■. involved were watching Mm, but police ref used, to confirm or deny the allegation..County Attv. .Paul Van Dam, in releasing’a report on the shooting, declined to say why Wallace was under surveillance. But he said there is “no evidence to show s.u f f .i c i e n t negligence or recklessness _ for criminalprosecution in the incident,?which left Officer David Olson in critical condition.But later, acting Salt Lake City Police ' Chief Edgar Bryan said the surveillance' was both to ensure the church’s semiannual, conference last weekend was not-disrupted, and to protect Wallace. .Bryan said Wallace had made implied • threats; to disrupt the • conference, and. added they could.', also be. interpreted as threats, against church General Authorities. •sheriff’s investigation reportMANY PEOPLE*£■r-W:ae:esirif:iIt!IIn addition to that, there are many people who do not agree with Mr.' Wallace’s views. He could be endangered by those people, and we felt it necessary to ensure his safety,” he said. '. Bryan said the surveillance .allowed his department to “prevent him (Wallace) from disrupting conference and make sure he could move freely about without anyone interfering with his movements.”He- denied the church of Jesus Christ of Laiter-day Saints (Mormon) asked, for the surveillance.Olson was accidentally shot Sunday by long-time partner, and close friend Michael Roberts as Roberts was removing the gun from his holster so he would be more comfortable, Van Dam said. Both had been on duty for IS hours, asavs.Olson remained hospitalized with a bullet wound in his neck. Hospital officials said he may be paralyzed from the .chest down.Roberts is hospitalized and being treated for shock, officials said..The county attorney said, the sheriff’s office, city police, Mormon, church security, arid the FBI were involved in planning the surveillance.Wallace, a Vancouver, Wash., attorney, called -the incident needless and asked for an explanation of why he-was being watched.A . former .Mormon priest,., he was communicated from Mormon church last after' performing an authorized ordination in Portland, Ore., of a black man into the church’s priesthood, which is denied'blacks.The shooting took placehigh ex-the year ■ mines r a Salt Lake County residence where Wallace was staying. He had come to Salt Lake City to file a federal court suit against the church and . judicial officials he claims illegally banned . him from Temple Square..The church gives no reasonfor its ban. except to say it is' from God..The sheriff’s office had said it wasn’t notified' of the surveillance,- but Van Dam said one deputy sheriff was involved in advanced planning and deputies ' on. duty Sunday knew about it.
Newspaper Details
Ogden Standard Examiner
Ogden, Utah, US
Fri, Apr 08, 1977
Page 8
Full Page
Clipped by
Ju B.
USA 14 Feb 2023
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