The Utah County Attorney’s Office has concluded that a Saratoga Springs police officer was not legally justified in using deadly force during a 2024 traffic stop that left an unarmed man seriously injured.
The incident occurred on October 17, 2024, when 43-year-old Fernando Valenzuela was pulled over in Saratoga Springs. His girlfriend, her teenage daughter, and two dogs were inside the vehicle at the time.
According to the full OICI report, Officer Dean Sekona initially pulled Valenzuela over after suspecting the vehicle’s window tint was too dark. Using a tint meter, the officer measured the window at 2% light transmittance, well below Utah’s legal minimum of 35%.
Valenzuela told the officer he did not have a driver’s license or identification and provided a false name. For nearly an hour, the traffic stop remained calm. Officers were polite and professional as they discussed possible next steps, including whether Valenzuela should be detained or whether the vehicle should be impounded.
The situation escalated roughly 50 minutes into the stop after an investigator from the Utah Attorney General’s Office contacted the Saratoga Springs Police Department. Officers were informed that Valenzuela had previously been found with a firearm under his car seat several years earlier and was under investigation for suspected drug trafficking. Based on that information, officers elevated the encounter from a misdemeanor traffic stop to a felony stop.
Officer Sekona and two other officers approached the vehicle with weapons drawn. Valenzuela was ordered to raise his hands and exit the vehicle. According to the report, Valenzuela raised and lowered his arm multiple times, possibly attempting to remove his seat belt. Moments later, instead of exiting, he began to drive away.
As the vehicle moved forward, Officer Sekona fired two shots from his patrol rifle. One bullet entered the car through the rear driver-side window, passed through the driver’s seat, and struck Valenzuela in the back near his lower left shoulder. The bullet punctured his lung, causing it to collapse. A second shot struck part of the vehicle and ricocheted.
Despite being critically injured, Valenzuela continued driving before abandoning the vehicle and fleeing on foot. He was located approximately 20 minutes later by a helicopter crew and transported to a local hospital. He survived the shooting.
Investigators later confirmed that Valenzuela was unarmed and that no firearm was found in the vehicle.
In his final report, Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray acknowledged that Officer Sekona had legitimate safety concerns after receiving new information about Valenzuela’s past. However, Gray concluded that Valenzuela did not pose an immediate threat of death or serious bodily injury to officers or others at the moment deadly force was used.
“The question is whether Valenzuela’s subsequent behavior supported probable cause to believe he posed an immediate threat,” Gray wrote. “I conclude that the answer is no.”
Gray further noted that Officer Sekona did not fire his weapon in response to Valenzuela’s hand movements, but only after Valenzuela began to drive away, when any potential threat to officers had diminished.
The report also emphasized the danger posed to innocent passengers inside the vehicle. Gray noted that had the teenage girl in the back seat been leaning forward, or had the vehicle moved slightly differently, the bullet could have struck her or Valenzuela’s girlfriend instead. Under those circumstances, Gray concluded that firing into the vehicle created a greater risk to innocent bystanders than allowing Valenzuela to leave the scene.
Because the use of deadly force was found to be unjustified, the case is now being reviewed by the executive team of the Utah County Attorney’s Office to determine whether criminal charges should be filed against the officer.
The City of Saratoga Springs has stated it is fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation and remains committed to transparency and accountability. City officials declined to comment further while the county attorney’s review remains active.
When Use of Force Leaves Families With Questions
Incidents involving police use of force can have lasting physical, emotional, and financial consequences for those involved and their families. When deadly force is used, the legal standard is high and requires an immediate threat of serious harm. When that standard is not met, accountability and civil remedies may come into question.
Cases involving police shootings are complex and deeply personal. Families affected by these incidents often have questions about their rights, the investigation process, and what options may be available moving forward.
If you or someone you love has been seriously injured during an encounter involving law enforcement, it may be important to speak with an experienced attorney to better understand your rights and potential next steps.
