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SALT LAKE CITY — Marcela Acosta's son's fifth birthday party ended with the arrest of an armed man Sunday night.
About 7:30 p.m., Utah Transit Authority police officers responded to what was believed to be a fight near the Salt Lake Intermodal Hub. Police later learned the man was armed, and they chased him into Centro Civico Mexicano, 155 W. 600 South, according to Salt Lake Police Lt. Carl Merino.
Acosta was just about to clean up after her son's birthday party at the center when she saw a man run into the building.
"He looked all sweaty," she said. "Just desperate."
Acosta said she saw police follow the man inside, and she told everyone at the party to leave the building.
"It was scary because it was my son's fifth birthday party," Acosta said. "I never imagined I would go through this."
Salt Lake police helped UTA officers locate the man inside the center after everyone was evacuated. Police used a Taser to subdue the man, who was about 25 years old, according to Merino.
"Once he was taken into custody, they did find a gun that he had tried to get rid of inside the building," he said.
The 200 West block of 600 South was closed while police investigated the incident. No one was injured during the chase. Police did not release the man's name Sunday night.
Contributing Devon Dolan
