2 SLC officers injured responding to stolen cellphone call


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SALT LAKE CITY — One Salt Lake police officer was stabbed and another suffered a neck injury Friday night after they responded to a call of a stolen cellphone, according to Lt. Carl Merino.

People at Sugarhouse Park had one of their cellphones stolen, and they used tracking technology to determine the phone was at 985 N. Riverside Drive, Merino said. Once they arrived at the location, they called for police assistance at 12:30 a.m.

Police confronted individuals at the address before the investigation turned into a riot.

"The officers were confronted by 10 to 12 people assaulting them. They called for assistance," said Lt. Carl Merino of the Salt Lake City Police Department.

One of the officers was stabbed in the lower back, above his belt line, and needed stitches.

Police backup later arrived, and six people were arrested on multiple charges, including assault on a police officer, interfering with an arrest and riot. Four people were transported to jail.

Both officers were taken to the hospital. The officer who was stabbed did not suffer a life-threatening injury, and both were later sent home.

"Luckily both officers are going to be OK. The stab wound didn't hit anything vital, and the officers were released this morning to go home," Merino said.

Police also booked Indaleci Martinez, 46, into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of rioting, interfering with arrest and assaulting a police officer. It is unclear whether Martinez owned the home, Salt Lake police detective Cody Lougy said.

The investigation is ongoing and "appears to be gang-involved," according to Lougy. Police served a search warrant on the address and obtained camera footage that showed the people at the home advancing at the officers, police report.

Contributing: Whitney Evans

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