Cops Hunt Canyon for Suspect Who Shot Utah State Parks Officer

MOAB, Utah (AP) — State park officials say a parks police officer is in critical condition after being shot several times on a popular trail outside of Moab.

Utah State Parks spokeswoman Deena Loyola says the officer was wounded Friday evening by an unknown assailant while patrolling the Poison Spider Mesa Trail.

Law officers from several agencies are looking for a suspect and have set up various road blocks in counties around Moab.

Grand County Sheriff Jim Nyland tells KSL-TV that a man confronted the ranger in the parking lot shortly before 9 p.m. MST. He says the ranger shot three times, in the arm, leg and abdomen.

The officer, whose name wasn't released, was flown by helicopter to a Moab area hospital.

Video Courtesy of KSL.com