Orem Police Officer Shoots Suspected Armed Robbers

OREM – An Orem police officer fired two shots at a suspected armed robber in October, according to court documents.

The man was not shot either and surrendered shortly after.

31 Oct. On, Orem police used serious incident protocol involving officers after responding to a report of an armed robbery. No other details about the police shooting were released at the time.

John Matthew Gutierrez, 25, of Provo, was arrested and later charged in Fourth District Court with five counts of aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony. First Happy Day Massage on him, 565 S. It is alleged that after entering the state, three employees pointed a gun and demanded money from each of them.

An hour later, he performed Lucky Day Massage, 289 AD. entered 930 South and robbed two employees, according to charging documents. Gutierrez then allegedly “drove to a third massage parlor and walked to the front door, where officers located him.”

A detective with the Payson Police Department, who is assisting with the police shooting investigation, reviewed body camera video and determined that the Orem officer confronted Gutierrez at a third massage business and twice identified himself as a police officer.

“The suspect turned around and had an object in his hand. (The officer) then fired two shots and John later surrendered to officers. John was not hit by either shot,” the search warrant affidavit states.

Police said they found a gun in Gutierrez's waistband when he was taken into custody. Gutierrez told authorities he robbed the massage parlor “because he wanted rent money,” the charges state.

The Utah County Attorney's Office said Thursday that the shooting is still under investigation by a protocol team and that the officer was legally justified in using deadly force after the investigation turned over to his office. Prosecutors will decide no.