PUBLIC RELATIONS UNIT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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SLCPD Patrol Officers, SWAT Team Safely Arrest Aggravated Assault Suspect

SALT LAKE CITY — Officers with the Salt Lake City Police Department have safely arrested a 23-year-old man who is accused of threatening emergency medical workers with a gun.

“We will not tolerate threats of violence or harm against our public safety partners,” said Chief Mike Brown. “No matter the time of day, our first responders are here in our community prepared to help. This incident, unfortunately, exposes the very real dangers public safety workers can face without warning as they go about their duties.”

This investigation started at 3:27 a.m. on Saturday, February 24, 2024, when employees with Gold Cross called out for emergency help while on a call for service near 600 East 2500 South.

During the investigation, officers learned employees with Gold Cross initially responded to the suspect’s house for a medical-related issue.

Based on preliminary information, the suspect chased after and threatened the Gold Cross workers with a gun.

Fortunately, the suspect did not physically harm any of the medical workers.

The employees drove to a nearby fire station for safety and waited for police.

Officers arrived at the suspect’s house and started locking down the area.

Around 3:44 a.m., the suspect exited the house, refused to cooperate, and then went back inside the house.

Due to the rapidly changing situation, the on-scene incident commander started a reverse 9-1-1 to notify neighbors and requested them remain inside.

The on-scene incident commander further requested the assistance of SLCPD SWAT and Crisis Negotiators. These highly trained teams provide patrol officers with additional resources.

At 4:28 a.m., the suspect exited the house for a second time and refused to cooperate. Officers used a less-lethal shotgun trying to gain compliance from the suspect. However, the suspect refused and retreated into the home.

Officers continued attempts to negotiate with the suspect, including doing call outs and speaking to him on the phone.

At 4:36 a.m. the suspect exited the home after speaking with the on-scene incident commander by phone. The suspect safely surrendered.

Officers learned the suspect was heavily intoxicated.

The SLCPD SWAT team entered the home and garage and conducted a protective sweep of the house and confirmed no one else needed help.

Officers have obtained a court-authorized search warrant.

The suspect will be booked into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail once he is medically cleared.

Information, including his name and charges, will be available on the Utah Courts Xchange website once he is processed.

A SLCPD Public Information Officer (PIO) responded to the scene.

Several photos are being released. Media may use these photos with credit to the Salt Lake City Police Department.

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.

Photo: A Salt Lake City Police car blocks 600 East near 2500 South while patrol and SWAT officers attempt to safely take a suspect into custody (SLCPD photo, February 24, 2024).

Photo: A Salt Lake City Police car blocks 600 East near 2500 South while patrol and SWAT officers attempt to safely take a suspect into custody (SLCPD photo, February 24, 2024).

Photo: SWAT officers with the Salt Lake City Police Department stand in a driveway after they and patrol officers safely took a man into custody (SLCPD photo, February 24, 2024).

Photo: A sergeant with the Salt Lake City Police Department’s SWAT Team de-briefs with the overnight watch commander and a patrol sergeant after a man is safely taken into custody (SLCPD photo, February 24, 2024).

Photo: A sergeant with the Salt Lake City Police Department’s SWAT Team stands outside a house in the Sugar House neighborhood after officers safely arrested a 23-year-old man (SLCPD photo, February 24, 2024).

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