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 Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information.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 — A Salt Lake man accused of threatening police with an ax while telling officers he didn't want to go back to prison now faces potential prison time after officers were able to safely take him into custody.
William Montero Jr., 36, was charged Friday in 3rd District Court with aggravated burglary, a first-degree felony; assault on a police officer, a second-degree felony; possession of a weapon by a restricted person, a third-degree felony; giving false information to an officer, a class A misdemeanor; and interfering with an arrest, a class B misdemeanor.
On Monday, police say Montero sneaked into Smith's, 455 S. 500 East, before it opened and was spotted by employees trying to pry open a lock box in the electronics section of the store, according to charging documents. When confronted, police say Motero ran off with store merchandise while holding an ax.
Salt Lake police responded to the scene and spotted Montero by a nearby Wendy's restaurant. Officers chased him to the nearby Burger King parking lot, 575 E. 400 South, where Montero raised the ax above his head and warned officers to back off, according to the charges.
An officer confronted Montero at gunpoint, prompting him to exclaim, "Just shoot me because I won't go back to prison," the charges state.
Montero made multiple threatening statements to police. But an officer was able to use a Taser, which allowed others to safely take him into custody without any shots being fired, according to the charges. After he was in arrested, Montero allegedly gave investigators the name of his deceased brother before telling them his real name.
Prosecutors have requested Montero be held in the Salt Lake County Jail pending trial, noting that he has an "extensive criminal history" and had several warrants out for his arrest at the time of the Smith's burglary.
