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A standoff ended in Bluffdale this morning as deputies arrested a man they believe to be extremely dangerous.
Salt Lake County sheriff's deputies tracked 31-year-old Oliver Benavidez to a condominium complex at 14035 Marketview Dr. (1440 W.) in Bluffdale around midnight. Deputies say Benavidez is a known gang member, a threat to the community and was wanted on several felonies, including assaulting a police officer.
Once it became apparent he was barricading himself inside a unit at the complex, deputies tried to make contact with him using a bullhorn. They also used a robot to try to look into the condo. They evacuated surrounding residents and eventually drove him out with a smoke device. He surrendered around 5 a.m.
Deputies interviewed him and then took him to the Salt Lake County Jail.
Police say he is a known gang member with an extensive criminal history. Lt. Don Hutson with the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office says officials had been looking for him for weeks. Hutson says last Saturday night, Benavidez was a passenger in a car pulled over during a traffic stop. He says as a deputy approached, Benavidez pushed the driver out of the car and took off. The deputy lunged out of the way but was struck by the vehicle.
E-mail: spark@ksl.com
