Utah County residents gathered Tuesday night at the county planning commission to debate a proposed data‑center ordinance that would add new zoning rules for large‑scale data facilities. While the commission voted to approve the ordinance without a public comment period, the meeting descended into chaos when several protesters refused to leave.

Protester claims deputy used excessive force

One protester, Aspen Azalea, a Salt Lake County resident, told FOX 13 News she was singled out because she had previously attended a similar hearing. Azalea says she was instructed to leave, refused, and was then grabbed by deputies. She alleges that Deputy Phillip Crawford pushed her, seized her hands and threw her to the ground in the lobby, causing her chin to strike the floor.

“When he turned the corner, he pushed some momentum into me and threw me to the ground, and at that point, he also had control of my hands,” Azalea said. “The sound you hear in the video is my chin. He could have killed me because there was a bench; if he threw me into that bench, I don’t think I’d be here today.”

Sheriff’s office response

Utah County Sheriff Mike Smith released a statement later that afternoon. He said individuals who refused to leave after being directed to do so were escorted by deputies, and that one individual allegedly assaulted a deputy during the process. “Violence against law‑enforcement officers is unacceptable, and our deputies deserve to perform their duties without being subjected to physical assault,” Smith wrote. He added that the incident will be addressed through the appropriate legal process.

Legal consequences for the protester

Azalea now faces misdemeanor charges of assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest and disrupting a public meeting. The sheriff’s office maintains that she struck Deputy Crawford in the groin, a claim Azalea denies, stating, “No, I never kicked him. I absolutely didn’t kick him.”

Community reaction and next steps

Local residents expressed concern over both the ordinance and the handling of the protest. “We don’t want groundwork laid for data centers in general,” Azalea said, emphasizing the community’s desire to keep large data facilities out of residential neighborhoods.

County officials indicated that, now that the ordinance has passed, the county commission will revisit the data‑center topic next month. Planning commission members declined to comment on the altercation.

What this means for Utah County

The incident highlights the tension between rapid technological development and community input on land‑use decisions. While the county moves forward with the ordinance, residents and local leaders will likely continue to monitor how future meetings are conducted and how law‑enforcement interacts with citizens exercising their right to protest.

For those interested in the upcoming data‑center discussion, the next county commission meeting is scheduled for early November. Community members are encouraged to attend and submit written comments during the public comment period, which will be announced by the commission chair.

Original reporting: FOX 13 KSTU (Scripps) – Utah County — read the source article.