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OREM — Orem police are asking for help finding two men who assisted an officer last week when a man he was questioning became violent.
Officers don't need to question the men, they want to thank them.
"We don't necessarily need it for any report, we just want to properly thank them for the help," Orem Police Lt. Craig Martinez said.
The officer was looking to question Adam Morgan, 20, about a domestic violence report when he spotted him heading into a Maverik gas station, 800 S. State. Knowing Morgan had a history of running from officers, the officer followed him inside.
"At the time we were pretty busy, everyone was busy on calls," Martinez said. "He knew that the Maverik only had one way in or out, so he decided to go in, confront the guy, and see if he could take him into custody."
Had they not helped, who knows what could have happened. If (bystanders) see an opportunity to safely help a police officer when he's in this type of a situation, by all means, do what you think is best.
–Lt. Craig Martinez, Orem Police
In a surveillance video shared on the department's Facebook page, the initial encounter between Morgan and the officer is calm. Then Morgan tried to run and the two begin to grapple, moving throughout the store.
Morgan and the officer fell to the floor near the store's exit, but as Morgan jumped up, a Maverik employee and two customers shoved him away and helped the officer restrain him.
The video was posted as part of the department's "Tattletale Tuesday" series, which usually asks the public to help identify suspects. This time, police want to identify the two bystanders who stepped in to help.
"Had they not helped, who knows what could have happened," Martinez said. "If (bystanders) see an opportunity to safely help a police officer when he's in this type of a situation, by all means, do what you think is best."
Following the altercation, Morgan was booked into Utah County Jail on outstanding warrants. He pleaded no contest on Thursday to assault, a class B misdemeanor, and interfering with an arresting officer, a class B misdemeanor. Additional charges of domestic violence in the presence of a child and giving false information to a police officer were dismissed.
Anyone with information about the two men who assisted the officer is asked to contact the Orem Police Department on Facebook or by calling 801-229-7070.
