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SALT LAKE CITY — A man who allegedly tried to force his way into a house claiming he was a police officer was beaten, handcuffed and held until the real police arrived to arrest him.
Just after 6 a.m. Monday, a man went to the back door of 733 E. Kensington, "showed a police badge through the house window and said, 'Police!'" according to a Salt Lake County Jail report.
The man was not wearing a police uniform but did have a pair of handcuffs, said Salt Lake police detective Greg Wilking. He attempted to force his way into the house. Three people were home at the time, Wilking said.
The homeowners, who had recently moved in, almost immediately suspected the man was not a real police officer. One of the occupants of the home and the intruder got into a fight. He was able to grab the fake officer's handcuffs and use them on the man, Wilking said.
When Salt Lake police arrived, they found 42-year-old Reed Grover, of West Jordan, handcuffed in the driveway. Wilking said investigators weren't sure Tuesday what Grover's motive was.
"He wasn't making much sense, what he was saying to (the homeowners)," Wilking said.
A toy police badge was recovered at the scene. Grover was taken to a local hospital to be treated for injuries sustained during the fight with the homeowner before he was booked into jail for investigation of impersonating a police officer, burglary, parole violation and assault.
In his jail mug shot, Grover has a blackened right eye that is swollen shut, as well as several large gashes and cuts on his forehead.
Utah court records show Grover has an extensive criminal history that includes convictions for aggravated assault resulting in serious bodily injury, attempted forgery, attempted wanton destruction of wildlife, and drug-related crimes. At one point, he was referred to mental health court, according to court records.
