Episode 64 – Barricade Erupts into Urgent HRT When Freed Victim Returns to Hostage Taker
Description
In September of 2021 a suspect involved in a carjacking and attempted homicide led police in a vehicle pursuit that ended in a
car crash in Farmington Utah. The suspect fled on foot across Interstate 15 into a residential neighborhood prompting patrol
officers to establish a perimeter and begin a search with a K9 unit. During the search a single gunshot was heard, South Davis
Metropolitan SWAT and North Davis Metropolitan SWAT were both activated to conduct a house-to-house search. Operators discovered
a bullet hole in a residence window, and shortly after, a male exited nearby home in a vehicle. He was stopped and informed
operators that his family was being held hostage and that the suspect had sent him to check for police. As operators moved toward
the residence, a juvenile female escaped through a window. Debriefing the father and daughter, it became clear that three more
hostages remained inside the home with an armed suspect. Negotiated side and a handgun was recovered next to his body.
My guest today is Lieutenant Andrew Smith. Andrew began his law enforcement career with the Utah Highway Patrol in 2008. In 2011,
he left the highway and began working for the West Bountiful Police Department. He joined the South Davis Metropolitan SWAT team in
2012 and eventually moved to the Bountiful City Police Department in 2013, where he worked his way through various assignments and
promoted to the rank of lieutenant and team commander of the South Davis Metropolitan SWAT team. Anders held numerous leadership
positions in the department, including FTO, lead scout, entry team member, and assistant team leader, and is currently the South
Davis Metropolitan SWAT team commander. He’s been honored with numerous unit citations as a member of the police department and
SWAT team, including his involvement in two hostage rescue operations and two Bountiful City Police Department chief stars, one of
which was for his response to an active shooter at a local junior high.
Episode Information
Episode Number: Season 06, Episode 06 (Episode 63)
Episode Title: Barricade Erupts into Urgent HRT When Freed Victim Returns to Hostage Taker
Guests: Joel Anderson and Bob Shaw
Air Date: November 19, 2025
Episode Length: 1:26:20
Guest Information
Joel Anderson – Tactical Commander, Washington State Patrol SWAT Team; Vice President of Washington State Tactical Officers Association
Bob Shaw – Patrol Sergeant, Pierce County Sheriff’s Department SWAT Team; Washington State Tactical Officers Association Cadre Member
Topics Covered
[00:03:04] Introduction and Team Overview — Pierce County and Washington State Patrol SWAT team structures and capabilities.
[00:08:11] The Homicide Investigation — Three-month investigation into August 2024 homicide and tracking suspect to two locations.
[00:11:40] Surveillance and Target Identification — Girlfriend drives suspect from Portland to Bremerton and opens garage.
[00:14:39] Rolling In and Initial Contact — Deploying armor with announcements; girlfriend insists suspect isn’t there.
[00:15:42] Establishing Containment — Phone ping confirms suspect still present despite denial.
[00:20:00] Discovering the Vehicle Barricade — Suspect barricaded in car inside hoarded garage.
[00:32:30] Chemical Munitions and Tactical Options — Gas deployment and planning to extract vehicle with armor.
[00:45:00] Vehicle Extraction Attempt — Pulling vehicle from garage while containing suspect.
[00:56:49] Seven-Hour Barricade Becomes Hostage Situation — Girlfriend returns; suspect takes her hostage.
[01:02:00] Shift to Hostage Rescue — Teams rapidly pivot to immediate HRT.
[01:10:00] Dynamic Entry and Rescue — Combined teams enter confined garage to rescue hostage and apprehend suspect.
[01:20:00] Lessons Learned — Multi-agency coordination and rapid transitions between mission types.
Contact Info
Lt Andrew Smith – asmith@bountiful.gov
Books
Legacy by James Kerr – ISBN-13: 978-1472103536