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LEHI — Police are investigating after the owner of a local software company reported that a man attempted to start a fire at his business. Authorities were also investigating Friday to see if it was connected with a bomb threat in Juab County Thursday.
Dave Bateman, the owner of Entrata, posted a Facebook video Thursday night describing an incident at his business headquarters at 4205 Chapel Ridge Road in Lehi. In the video, he said he believed the attempted arson was a personal attack against him.
Bateman's post also included surveillance video that shows a man parking near the building in a black sedan, exiting the vehicle with what appears to be a gas can and then dumping a liquid onto the building and Bateman’s parking sign. The man then appears to try and ignite the fluid with a lit cigarette. The individual then appears to leave a piece of paper before driving away in the black car.
The Lehi Community Emergency Response Team tweeted Friday the vehicle may have been spotted in Juab County. It has an “89” and three sideways marks near its spoiler.
Please see if you recognize the unique markings on this car. This person is wanted for attempted arson in the Traverse Mountain area!
— Lehi CERT (@LehiCERT) June 8, 2018
Contact the @LehiCityPolice with any info (801) 768-7110. pic.twitter.com/IseRa5bf1m
Bateman said in the video that the individual left a note during the incident, but didn’t disclose what it said because it was “disgusting” and “disturbing.”
Police responded to the report of the attempted arson at Entrata shortly after 5:45 p.m. Thursday, Lehi Police Sgt. Bart Kirkham said. He added that the case remains under investigation and that police were reviewing the surveillance video Bateman released.
Utah Highway Patrol Lt. Todd Royce said authorities were looking to see if the incident was related to a man who was arrested Thursday evening near Nephi after he called 911 and said he had a bomb in his vehicle.
Andrew Adonki Sheridan, of Washington state, was arrested in connection with the alleged bomb threat in Juab County, Royce said. However, he did not say why police believe the two incidents are connected.
In the Facebook video, Bateman said he believes the attempted arson is related to his involvement with the Republican Party, although it has not been confirmed by officials if that is the motive.
Bateman said in the video that his political involvement resulted from bailing the Utah Republican Party out of debt late last year. The debt was accumulated from fighting SB54, a bill which allows candidates to bypass Utah's traditional caucus and convention system by gathering signatures to get on the primary election ballot. Bateman made headlines in March when he accused Utah Sen. Todd Weiler, R-Woods Cross, of trying to extort him, which he said was related to that case.
However, Lehi police closed the case in April and Weiler tweeted they found no evidence of extortion against him.
“I do have reason to believe his actions were politically motivated,” Bateman said in the video. “We want to find out who it is and then we can bring that information forward to figure out exactly what the motive was.”
Anyone with information about the vehicle or the driver is encouraged to call Lehi police at 801-768-7110.
