Police capture suspect in Utah deputy’s killing

KANAB, Utah (AP) — The suspect in the shooting death of a Utah sheriff’s deputy was captured early today near the Utah-Arizona border after a resident reported an armed prowler, authorities said.

Law officers arrested Scott Curley, 23, shortly before 1 a.m. MDT near Kanab, said Jim Driscol, chief deputy of the Coconino County Sheriff’s Department in Arizona.

“A caller advised that a suspicious person was trying to get into his home,” Driscol said. “He was awakened by dogs and looked out the window and saw a person with a rifle slung over his shoulder.”

Seventeen law enforcement officers responded and quickly located Curley, who surrendered without resistance, Driscol said at a news conference held at Kanab.

Curley is accused of shooting Kane County Sheriff’s Deputy Brian Harris Thursday during a foot chase.

Authorities allege that Curley hid beneath a tree in the small town of Fredonia, just south of the Utah border about 10 miles from Kanab, and waited for two pursuing lawmen to get closer, opening fire from between 40 and 150 feet away and killing Harris.

The suspect then vanished into the rugged wilderness that surrounds the border area and wasn’t seen again by authorities until early Monday.

Deputies said that at the time of the arrest Curley was in possession of the rifle suspected to have been used in Harris’ killing.

Authorities said he faces a first degree murder charge in Arizona.