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SALT LAKE CITY — A man who police described as being “out of control” was arrested Tuesday.
Around 10 a.m., a fight broke out between Steven Carsello, 39, and Vern Brown who exited the post office located at 230 W. 200 South at the same time as Carsello, according to the Salt Lake City Police Department. The man accused Carsello of kicking his car, according to a probable cause statement.
“(Carsello) removed an antenna from a parked vehicle and began chasing the male with the antenna,” said Salt Lake City police detective Cody Lougy. “The guy who owned the vehicle took exception to having the antenna ripped off, so he actually went to confront Mr. Carsello, at which point Mr. Carsello started attacking that individual.”
Carsello broke the antenna in three places and also dented the trunk of Brown's car, according to Brown.
The fight escalated when Rick Heaps, who was also in the parking lot, came to help Brown. At that point, Carsello told them he had a knife in his back pocket and went at Heaps, according to police.
Carsello then picked up a glass beer bottle and broke it to use as a weapon while confronting the witnesses, according to the probable cause statement. While Carsello took off running down 200 South, a witness attracted the attention of a Salt Lake City police officer who attempted to take Carsello into custody.
(He) climbed up on top of a truck which had a ladder in it and he actually used the ladder as a standoff tool to keep the officers at bay.
–Detective Cody Lougy
“The suspect then got into a fighting stance at which point the officer deployed his Taser, but this man fell down and the probes came out of his clothing so he got up and started fighting again,” Lougy said.
Officers tried using the Taser a second time, but were unsuccessful. Carsello then ran several feet to a truck parked on the street while more officers arrived on scene.
“(He) climbed up on top of a truck which had a ladder in it and he actually used the ladder as a standoff tool to keep the officers at bay,” Lougy said.
Eventually Carsello came down and crawled underneath the truck to avoid being taken into custody. A Taser was deployed for a third time and Carsello was apprehended by police.
After police became involved, Heaps captured video of Carsello being stunned and resisting arrest. It can be viewed on YouTube, but viewer discretion is advised for vulgar language.
“This guy was just out of control,” Lougy said. “It took multiple officers to get him into custody and several deployments of the Taser.”
Investigators found Spice in Carsello’s possession that Lougy said may have led Carsello to become confrontational. He was arrested on suspicion of aggravated assault, criminal mischief and resisting arrest.
Carsello was transported to the Salt Lake County Jail after an evaluation by medical personnel, Lougy said.
No officers were injured during the incident. Lougy estimated six or seven officers from the department responded to the scene before Carsello was taken into custody.
Contributing:Devon Dolan
