City of Moab will investigate police’s handling of Petito incident

Moab, Utah. Photo: Townlift

MOAB, Utah — In a statement, the City of Moab said it will conduct a formal investigation into the Moab City Police Department’s handling of an incident last month involving Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie.

“The Moab City Police Department has clear standards for officer conduct during a possible domestic dispute and our officers are trained to follow those standards and protocol,” the city said in a statement. “At this time, the City of Moab is unaware of any breach of Police Department policy during this incident. However, the City will conduct a formal investigation and, based on the results, will take any next steps that may be appropriate.”

According to Fox 13, the investigation request came from an outside party and will be conducted by an unaffiliated law enforcement agency.

A 911 call reporting a dispute between Petito and Laundrie led to officers confronting the couple outside of Arches National Park.

“The male tried to create distance by telling Gabbie to go take a walk to calm down, she didn’t want to be separated from the male, and began slapping him,” the police report said. “He grabbed her face and pushed her back as she pressed upon him and the van, he tried to lock her out and succeeded except for his driver’s door, she opened that and forced her way over him and into the vehicle before it drove off.”

Petito’s remains were found on Sunday in the Bridger-Teton National Forest. Police in Florida are actively searching for Laundrie since his disappearance last week.