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Utah officer hurt in crash dies from injuries
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Utah officer in surgery after crash Utah officer injured in crash still in critical condition
By Lindsay Whitehurst
Salt Lake Tribune
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — A North Salt Lake City police officer and father of newborn twins has died as a result of injuries from a crash during an auto chase, the department and his family announced Saturday.
Charles Skinner, 30, suffered head injuries when his police cruiser skidded on a rain-slick road and spun into a business sign while pursuing an alleged car thief about 4 a.m. Monday.
Despite undergoing surgery, Skinner did not regain consciousness and was taken off life support Friday evening, North Salt Lake Sgt. Mitch Gwilliam said.
Four weeks before his death, Skinner became a father of twins, a boy and a girl, and had recently bought a house with his wife Kaitlyn.
"He felt like he had the perfect life," said his father-in-law Gary Koehn, who is a Bountiful Police sergeant. When his daughter first brought Skinner home to meet her family, he was difficult to get to know because he was so quiet. But he blossomed after becoming a North Salt Lake police officer in May. "The simple task of putting on his uniform made him happy every day," Koehn said.
Skinner grew up in South Salt Lake and had served in the Salt Lake City Police department for about a year before moving north.
He was "ecstatic" about being a first-time father, Koehn said. When his newborn daughter came down with a respiratory problem, Skinner insisted on staying in the nursery with her so she wouldn't be alone.
"His children will always know their dad was a great man, respected police officer and a hero," said Koehn, his voice breaking with emotion.
Skinner was the first North Salt Lake Police officer to die on the job, Gwilliam said, and the loss has been painful for the department.
"It tears us apart that we have to go on," he said, knowing one of their own "gave the ultimate sacrifice for his community."
Gwilliam remembered that when Skinner was issued his equipment for the first time, he asked if he could drive his police car out to show his family.
"He was so proud to say, 'This is a police car, and it's mine," he said. "'This is what I get to drive.'"
The alleged car thief, meanwhile, was identified as 30-year-old William Fisher of Salt Lake City. He rolled his car and suffered minor injuries as he tried to exit Interstate 15 during the pursuit. The case is being reviewed to decide if charges related to Skinner's death will be filed, Gwilliam said.
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Copyright 2008 Salt Lake Tribune
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