Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — Strong words coming from Salt Lake police who said they are coming after those who destroyed property and attacked officers during Saturday’s protests.
“You may want to think about turning yourself in. That might be the easiest way to do it because you will face charges,” said Det. Greg Wilking with the Salt Lake City Police Department. “We are going to look through the video, we are going to put your face out there, and we are going to highlight what you did. And you may find yourself arrested.”
So far, the police department has arrested 46 people, but Det. Wilking said the investigations are just getting started.
The department has posted several pictures on its social media sites, asking for the public's help in identifying those setting a police car on fire, destroying property, and others who may have assaulted police officers.
Police said they are also investigating themselves.
One incident captured by a Salt Lake TV station shows police shoving an elderly man with a cane to the ground. An officer then came up to him and helped him up.
The department put that video up on its Twitter page, saying they are aware of it and it is being dealt with.
We need to identify the 3 individuals below. We would like to question the two on the left for the theft of items from a police vehicle, and the individual on the right for setting a police vehicle on fire. If you have any information please call 801-799-3000 case 20-94360 pic.twitter.com/4OqDvZHOsz
— SLC Police Dept. (@slcpd) June 1, 2020
“That was an inappropriate incident and I appreciate how quickly and seriously Chief Brown went to work with an investigation around that,” said Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall. “I also appreciate the officers around that officer (who) immediately went to the aid of that individual (and) helped him off the ground.”
Mayor Mendenhall said now is the time to come together as a city and community, and put an end to this violence.
“We asked people to stay engaged. We are all heartbroken, but the point is we have some serious to work to do,” she said. “And we need to work peacefully, and we need to work together. We need to listen to each other, and none of that can happen if violence is on our streets.”
