Constant guard for suspect at hospital

OGDEN -- Matthew David Stewart was reportedly wounded in the foot, stomach, arm and buttocks in the Jan. 4 shootout that killed Ogden Police Officer Jared Francom and injured five other officers, a source close to the investigation said Monday.

The source asked not to be identified because of the sensitive nature of the ongoing criminal investigation involving Stewart.

The information regarding Stewart's injuries are the first public details about the wounds he sustained in a gun battle when a dozen agents of the Weber-Morgan Narcotics Strike Force attempted to execute a search warrant at his home at 3268 Jackson Ave.

Stewart's injuries have been described as not life threatening.

A minimum of two deputies are guarding him around-the-clock, said Weber County Sheriff Terry Thompson. The deputies are there to provide security and don't attempt to interrogate Stewart, he said.

"Questioning is not done," Thompson said.

The Weber County Sheriff's Office has, in the past, guarded suspects undergoing medical treatment at hospitals.

"We try to use existing deputies (during their regular workshift for guard duty)," Thompson said.

Once Stewart is given medical clearance, he will be released to the custody of police and booked into Weber County Jail, said Sheriff's Lt. Mark Lowther. It has not been determined when Stewart will be released from the hospital, he said.

Lowther also said it's his understanding that Stewart is responsible for paying his medical bills as long as he remains hospitalized. Weber County will cover medical costs once Stewart is booked into jail, as it does for other inmates, he said.

Stewart, 37, has been charged with aggravated murder, seven counts of attempted aggravated murder and production of a controlled substance in a drug-free zone. Stewart's house is directly across the street from a meeting house of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, making the house a drug-free zone.

Weber County Attorney Dee Smith intends to seek the death penalty against Stewart.

Meanwhile, Stewart, through his attorney, Randy Richards, has filed a notice in 2nd District Court in Ogden invoking his Fifth Amendment right to remain silent to police questioning and against self-incrimination.

Other officers wounded in the shootout were strike force agents Shawn Grogan and Kasey Burrell, both of the Ogden Police Department; Sgt. Nate Hutchinson, Weber County Sheriff's Office; and Jason Vanderwarf, Roy Police Department. Ogden officer Michael Rounkles also was wounded when he arrived and tried to help the injured strike force agents.

Burrell remained in fair condition Monday at McKay-Dee Hospital. Rounkles was released late Monday. The other wounded officers were released earlier.

Stewart has not been charged in connection with what authorities have described as a suspicious device found in a closet at his home Jan. 9 that was detonated by a bomb squad.

Officials with the Salt Lake City Field Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives could not be reached for comment Monday regarding further information about the device.

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