Richardson, Cole G.

Overview

Employment

• Transparent Utah Public Compensation Records

  Fiscal Year	Entity	Employee	Title	Wages	Benefits	Total
  2026	American Fork City	Richardson, Cole G.	Police Officer I	$68,602.66	$39,298.86	$107,901.52
  2025	American Fork City	Richardson, Cole G.	Police Officer I	$50,055.17	$32,592.65	$82,647.82
  2021	American Fork City	Richardson, Cole G.	Score Keeper/Officia	$78.75	$6.82	$85.57

  Download CSV

Police Encounters

• Officer Cole G. Richardson was involved in the following police encounters:

• Ben Schneider (Reckless Ben)

• March 8, 2026: Richardson stopped the vehicle driven by Tyler Shaw, with Ben as a passenger. His supplement says he observed stop-sign violations, took no action on those traffic offenses, and turned the investigation over to Tonga. See page 8. Richardson wrote supplements for the March 8 and March 11 incidents and the March 11 warrant affidavit.

• The March 8 dashcam shows the car pause before the turn, around 13:13:32–33, contrary to the report’s claim that it did not stop completely. The required stopping location is a separate question. In a later interview, summarized from a rough app transcript, Chief Paul said Richardson had misremembered the stop-sign statute and that he did not believe a stop-sign violation occurred; Paul maintained that another basis for the stop existed.

• March 11, 2026: Richardson questioned the group about the sign and fundraiser, checked with neighboring property owners, and told Sheldon he intended to seize his phone. Richardson’s account says he and Adamson believed Sheldon was trying to destroy evidence. He grabbed Sheldon’s right arm, helped restrain and handcuff him, searched him, and transported him to AFPD. See pages 8–9 and 18.

• March 11, 2026: Richardson requested the warrant and wrote the operation plan. His supplement identifies the entry order and assigns Adamson to the perimeter. During the operation, Richardson covered the doorway with his patrol rifle while Tonga called people outside and placed them in handcuffs. See page 11 and the warrant packet.

• March 11, 2026: The booking sheet lists Richardson as the arresting officer. The supplements separately describe Tonga’s later handcuffing, jail transport, and booking. These entries record different parts of the encounter and are kept distinct here.

• Supporting Records

  • March 8 incident report
  • March 11 incident report
  • Search warrant 3352981 and return
  • March 11 probable-cause statement
  • March 11 booking sheet
  • March 8 dashcam — intersection at 0:56
  • John Bryan — first-stop analysis at 27:17

• ---

• Eric Roundy

• During the Eric Roundy encounter, Richardson waited by the garage while Officers Joshua M. Jensen and Bronson T. Kitchen continued knocking on the door and ordering the Roundy family to answer, despite being told to leave. See the body-camera and Ring footage.