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 Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information.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.
WEST JORDAN — A man allegedly armed with a box cutter while holding four people hostage was arrested after an intense standoff Tuesday.
"It was as intense as any hostage situation you can imagine," said West Jordan Police Sgt. Dan Roberts.
About 3:30 p.m., police say a man, apparently despondent over a recent breakup, held four people inside a bedroom near 2200 West and 8200 South, including his mother and sister and two young men, and wouldn't allow them to leave.
"The suspect held them hostage in the room with a box cutter demanding they call his ex-girlfriend and have her come to the house," according to a Salt Lake County Jail report.
When one of the male hostages told the man to stop, the hostage was pushed to the ground and suffered a minor cut injury from the box cutter, the report states.
Eventually, everyone was able to run out of the room except the man's mother. When police, including a SWAT team, arrived at the house, a blanket had been placed over the bedroom window and the bedroom door locked, Roberts said.
They could hear (his threats). He was determined to die and (said) there was only one way this was going to end.
–West Jordan Police Sgt. Dan Roberts
"They could hear (his threats). He was determined to die and (said) there was only one way this was going to end," the sergeant said, adding that many of the officers who responded to the scene had dealt with him before.
"(Officers) were able to force the door open and pin the guy there by the door where he wasn't close to his mother," he said.
The man continued to fight with officers, punching at least one of them. They eventually deployed a Taser. Roberts said because the man was armed with a box cutter, there was a fear that deadly force would have to be used.
Keaton Darrell Yeates, 24, was arrested for investigation of four counts of kidnapping and three counts of aggravated assault.
In October, Yeates was charged with marijuana and oxycodone possession while visiting an assisted living home, according to court records. A warrant was issued for his arrest Tuesday after his pretrial release was revoked. Jail records also stated a warrant was out for Yeates' arrest for two counts of assault on a police officer.
