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Gene Kennedy reportingA domestic dispute leads to a fight with police, during which the suspect reached for an officer's gun.
It had all the signs of a run-of-the-mill call. But when Salt Lake City police tried to arrest a domestic assault suspect, an officer had to put up quite the fight.
Domestics are actually one of the more serious calls for a police officer. And this story proves how unpredictable they can be.
Police went to a residence overnight, looking for 25-year-old Efren Gonzales. Gonzales allegedly assaulted a woman and she told police where to find him.
When police arrived at the apartment, officers say they found Gonzales passed out on the back porch. Police say he gave them a false name then resisted arrest, fighting with one of the officers, trying to get his gun.
Police tased him once. That didn't work. He broke the wires away and continued fighting. They had to tase him again and finally he gave up.
It was a violent encounter that could have been a lot worse.
Lt. Dave Cracroft, Salt Lake City Police Dept. :"He's lucky to be alive. The first officer was yelling, 'He's going for my gun.' If they had understood him, they probably would have shot him."
According to Salt Lake City police, Gonzales wasn't the only one fighting with the officers. His brother interfered and so did the man's wife.
The story is proof that domestic disputes are anything but run-of-the-mill. Police will tell you "domestics" are some of the most unpredictable calls an officer deals with.
Lt. Dave Cracroft, Salt Lake City Police Dept.: "We certainly handle other serious calls, but domestics can turn, parties deciding they want to resist police, that kind of thing."
Efren Gonzales has been booked into Salt Lake County jail on multiple charges, including domestic assault, assault on peace officers and resisting arrest.
Gonzales' brother and the man's wife were both cited for interfering with police.
