Apparent suicide: The UFA chief was facing a charge of soliciting a minor over the Internet
By Jason Bergreen
The Salt Lake Tribune
Salt Lake Tribune
A Unified Fire Authority battalion chief facing a federal charge of enticing a minor over the Internet, and who was recently arrested on a misdemeanor charge of shoplifting, was found dead in his car Sunday afternoon of an apparent suicide.
This e-mail was initiated by machine [10.148.8.4] at IP [10.148.8.4].
A member of the Tooele County Sheriff's search and rescue team found the body of 54-year-old Dennis Steadman about 2:15 p.m. in some flats off of Faust Road, just west of Five Mile Pass, Sheriff's Sgt. Brad Patch said. Carbon monoxide poisoning is the unofficial cause of death.
Patch said Steadman left his West Jordan home Friday afternoon and hadn't been seen since. He called his wife on Saturday and then she contacted police.
“She indicated he was suicidal,” Patch said.
The Utah and Tooele counties' sheriff's offices began searching for Steadman Saturday after being told he may be in their jurisdictions..
Steadman worked for the Salt Lake County Fire Department, recently renamed the Unified Fire Authority, for more than 30 years. UFA Deputy Chief Michael Jensen worked with Steadman for nine years.
“He was a good firefighter and one of the better incident commanders I've been around,” Jensen said.
UFA Capt. Gaylord Scott added, “We're just saddened.”
Steadman had recently run into legal trouble when he was arrested in February and charged with arranging to meet with who he thought was a 13-year-old girl, but was really an undercover agent. In April, he was arrested again for shoplifting after trying to return an item he didn't purchase.
Allen Wright, who lives across the street from Steadman, said the former chief was a good neighbor who was dedicated to helping others.
"He'd basically do anything you'd ask him to," Wright said.
Neighbors were shocked when allegations of solicitation surfaced, he said.
"We were really surprised. He was a really nice guy and did a lot for the community," said Wright.
Steadman's wife, Holly, issued a statement Sunday night about her husband's death. She wished to thank the search and rescue crews that found him as well as those who have supported him through recent trials.
"Dennis was a man of integrity and a friend to all," she said. "These past 15 years he's struggled with chronic health problems and despite the recent problems, he loved the Lord and the family is comforted in knowing that he is at peace."
---
Tribune reporter Michael N. Westley contributed to this story