Arizona probation officer shot, wounded in Utah

KINGMAN, Ariz. — A Mohave County probation officer who works cases in northern Arizona from an office in the southern Utah community of St. George was shot and wounded after arriving for work about 6:20 a.m. Tuesday.

Superior Court Administrator Kip Anderson said investigators believe the officer interrupted an intruder who was already inside the unnamed law office from which Mohave County leases space for two probation staff members.

Anderson said the officer who has worked for the county for “a few years” suffered a gunshot to one of his legs when he got into a struggle with the intruder who wore a hockey mask, black pants and a black hoodie.

The officer underwent surgery at Dixie Medical Center and was expected to be discharged by Wednesday morning, if not sooner, he said.

He did not identify the officer.

St. George police Sgt. Sam Despain said the department is working vigorously to identify and apprehend the suspect.

Anderson said there are indications the intruder intended to commit criminal damage and that the activity was not connected to probation office operations.

“We don’t believe that he was a probationer and we don’t believe this had anything to do with probation,” Anderson said.

He said the officer typically carries a weapon but was unarmed during the incident.