The Latest: Police investigating officer’s car-chase death

The Latest on a Utah police officer hit and killed during a car chase (all times local):

12 p.m.

Utah police say they’re investigating whether three juveniles in a stolen car intentionally hit an officer during a car chase.

West Valley City Police Chief Lee Russo said Monday 25-year-old Officer Cody Brotherson had gotten out of his car when he was killed. He was apparently trying to lay down a set of spike strips designed to stop the car by puncturing its tires.

Russo says officers are trained get behind some kind of barrier for protection when they deploy spike strips, but it’s not clear whether Brotherson had time before he was struck.

After hitting the officer, the stolen car careened down an embankment and slammed into a fence. The three male suspects ran, but were caught and taken into custody.

He says investigators are looking for body camera footage from Brotherson or other officers.

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8:40 a.m.

The family of a Utah police officer struck and killed during a chase says becoming an officer was his lifelong dream.

His mother Jenny Brotherson told reporters her 25-year-old son was the family jokester and protector, and he’d do anything for the people he loved.

Police have the West Valley City Police Officer Cody Brotherson was struck and killed by a stolen car Sunday while outside his car laying down tire spikes to stop the vehicle. He died at the scene.

The car came to a stop after he was hit and three people were taken into custody.

Investigators say the chase started after officers saw three people steal a car from an apartment complex.

Police say Cody Brotherson is a West Valley City native who had been with the department since December 2013.