PUBLIC RELATIONS UNIT

July 8, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact Information: PolicePRUnit@slcgov.com

Media Request Form: https://slcpd.com/mediarequest/

SLCPD Arrest Two Men, Safely Recover Illegally Possessed Rifles

SALT LAKE CITY — Through a collaborative effort, Salt Lake City police officers and officers assigned to the department’s Liberty Patrol Division’s Bike Squad arrested two men after safely recovering two illegally possessed rifles.

“In this situation, we had a community member see something out of the ordinary and call 9-1-1 right away,” said Chief Mike Brown. “I want to commend our officers for their exceptional work in this case. While we are still in the process of trying to determine the suspects’ intent and motives, it is imperative that our officers act swiftly to protect our community members and that is what they did.”

This investigation started at 10:11 a.m., on Thursday, July 6, 2023, when SLC911 got a call from a community member reporting two men with masks and hoodies covering their faces walking away from a car near 300 East 700 South.

Officers found both men, later identified as 18-year-old Angelo Crippen and 19-year-old Angelo Gay, walking in the middle of the street toward a nearby apartment complex.

While talking with Gay, officers found a loaded AR-15 style rifle concealed in Gay’s pants. Officers also recovered a vape pen suspected of containing marijuana.

Officers learned Crippen also had possession of the rifle officers recovered from Gay. Gay told officers he recently used marijuana, making it illegal for him to be in possession of any firearm.

Officers secured a court-authorized search warrant for a car associated with the suspects and recovered a second AR-15 style rifle, ammunition, suboxone, and another vape pen suspected of containing marijuana.

Officers booked Gay into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail and charged him with Possession of a Firearm by a Restricted Person, Carrying a Concealed Loaded Firearm, Possession of Marijuana, and Unlawful Use of Roadway.

Officers booked Crippen into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail and charged him with Possession of a Firearm by a Restricted Person, Possession of Marijuana, and Unlawful Use of a Roadway.

Charges are only allegations, and every arrested person is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The Salt Lake City Police Department is not the custodian of record for jail booking photos. Utah Code 17-22-30 mostly prohibits the release of jail booking photos. Generally, a jail booking photo can only be released by the custodian of record after a conviction or when law enforcement determines the person is a fugitive or an imminent threat to a person or public safety. In Salt Lake City, the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office is the custodian of record for jail booking photos.

A photo of the rifles recovered is being released. Media may use this photo with credit to the Salt Lake City Police Department.

1- Two AR-15 style rifles recovered by the Salt Lake City Police Department (SLCPD photo | July 6, 2023).

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