BOX ELDER COUNTY, Utah — Box Elder County Sheriff Kevin Potter has taken voluntary administrative leave after being involved in a motor vehicle incident in neighboring Weber County earlier this week, county leaders announced Friday.
In a formal news release issued from county offices in Brigham City, Box Elder County officials confirmed they were made aware that Potter was involved in the motor vehicle incident on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026.
Potter remained at the scene following the incident and cooperated with responding investigators, according to the county’s official statement.
The formal investigation into the incident is being conducted jointly by the Ogden Police Department and the Weber Metro CRASH Team.
In accordance with established Box Elder County standard procedures, Potter is taking voluntary administrative leave while the motor vehicle incident remains under active investigation by outside law enforcement agencies.
County leaders also extended their support to those impacted by the event.
“Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this incident,” Box Elder County officials said in the release.
County officials instructed that all questions, media inquiries, and public requests concerning the circumstances of the incident and the active investigation should be directed specifically to the Ogden Police Department.
Box Elder County leadership emphasized that the county will share additional information with the community as details are confirmed and determined appropriate for public release.
In April, Potter faced two independent third-party investigations into allegations of trespassing, suspected drunken driving and county vehicle policy violations stemming from an encounter with a local landowner in January.
Property owner James Knight told authorities he confronted Potter for parking on his private pasture land before observing Potter’s truck swerving along Interstate 15, repeatedly hitting rumble strips, and abruptly pulling onto an off-ramp shoulder near Riverside.
Knight, who called 911 to report suspected driving under the influence after noting Potter stumbled, slurred his speech and carried a beer can in his sweatshirt pocket, expressed concern that the sheriff might receive preferential treatment as he seeks reelection. According to state police reports, Potter admitted to possessing a beer while hiking to watch the sunset and acknowledged flashing his emergency lights during the confrontation, but insisted he was unimpaired and broke no traffic laws.
Individuals arrested and charged in complaints are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.