Interference in investigations also part of claims against Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office

['Clara Hatcher', '.Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Coauthors.Is-Layout-Flow', 'Class', 'Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus', 'Display Inline', '.Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar', 'Where Img', 'Height Auto Max-Width', 'Vertical-Align Bottom .Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Coauthors.Is-Layout-Flow .Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar', 'Vertical-Align Middle .Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar Is .Alignleft .Alignright'] Park Record 2025-09-23 00:00:00

With accusations of mishandling cases, like the Ross Creek road rage incident that left Patrick Hayes dead on Sept. 25, 2024, the Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office is also facing claims of strife between law enforcement agencies in Summit and Wasatch County, including Heber City police. Retired District Judge Richard D. McKelvie started an investigation into the Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office in March at the request of county officials. After the search, the Sheriff’s Office worked with the Wasatch County Attorney’s Office, which pursued a single obstruction of justice charge. Rifts between Summit, Wasatch countiesMcKelvie described “a rift” between the Summit and Wasatch sheriff’s offices, including an interview with now-retired Summit County Sheriff Frank Smith. Smith told McKelvie he “didn’t like what (he) saw,” and thought it would be best for the Summit County Sheriff’s Office to take a step back.