Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SANDY — A Sandy family were shocked to discover a fugitive hiding in their home Monday night.
Helen Urton and her husband, Fredric, said they were watching TV in their basement Monday evening. As the couple were getting ready for bed, Helen said she went into their upstairs bathroom and heard noises coming from behind the shower curtain.
"I heard a slight sound and then I heard it a second time, so I flung my hand and he jumped out," Helen said.
As she screamed, the man ran out of the bathroom and came face to face with Fredric.
"He didnt threaten us originally," Fredric said. "In fact, he told us, 'You seem like nice people. I don't want to hurt you.' "
The man told the Urtons that he was hiding from police. He said that he had entered the Urton's home through a side door that was propped open. He told them that he had taken a nap in their closet, but he told them that he hadn't stolen anything from them.
"He swore he hadn't taken anything and he put his hands up and twisted around and said, 'This is my watch,' " Helen said. "It was obvious he had been in every room upstairs. He started shaking and pleading, 'Please let me go. I just want to go home to my wife and child.' "
Fredric attempted to set off their home security alarm, and the fugitive ran away. The Urtons later discovered that he had taken two cans of soda from their fridge and used their bathroom. Helen also found that he had taken her credit cards, some money and jewelry from inside a case.
"I feel very vulnerable, very violated," Helen said. "He needs to be behind bars, obviously."
After the Urtons reported the incident to Sandy Police, the officers said that they had been looking for a man, Brian Platt, 35, that evening. Platt had lunged at a police officer with a Leatherman during a traffic stop. The officer tased Platt, but when the probes dislodged, Platt ran away. When the Urtons were shown Platt's picture, they said that the man in their house could have been him but that they weren't sure.
Police are investigating the burglary and are trying to determine if the man inside the Urton's home was Platt. He has still not been located.
