Gunman Wounds Utah Officer; Police Seek Link to Colorado Shootings

A lawman was shot in southeastern Utah on Thursday, and hundreds of police officers combed the area looking for three men accused of killing one officer and wounding two others in a Colorado shootout.

San Juan County Deputy Kelly Bradford, who was in critical condition, was responding to a report from a man who said a camouflage-clad gunman had fired at him while he was having lunch along a riverbank.

Three men wearing camouflage raked a patrol car with automatic rifle fire May 29 after being pulled over in a stolen vehicle in Cortez, Colo., about 50 miles east of here.

The officer who pulled them over was killed and the suspects then shot it out with other officers--wounding two--before fleeing on foot into the canyons. All three suspects have been identified as survivalists from Colorado.

Police would not say if they believe the Utah gunman is one of the Colorado men.

After Thursday’s shooting in Utah, hundreds of officers moved to evacuate Bluff’s estimated 300 townspeople. Several helicopters flew into the area, and roadblocks were set up.

Bluff resident Richard Adams told the Associated Press by telephone that all residents had been told to leave town.

The men being sought in last Friday’s shootout are Alan “Monte” Pilon, 30, of Dove Creek, Colo., Robert Matthew Mason, 26, and Jason Wayne McVean, 26, both of Durango, Colo.