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MURRAY — A man who police say was wearing a badge around his neck when he handcuffed a woman in an effort to "calm her down," has been arrested and accused of committing a number of crimes.
Sarkis Meguerditchian, 42, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on Sunday for investigation of aggravated kidnapping, aggravated assault, impersonating an officer and disorderly conduct.
Murray police were called Sunday afternoon to a convenience store at 1326 E. 5600 South on a report of a possible kidnapping. Based on witness statements and surveillance video collected from the store, Meguerditchian — who was wearing "a badge around his neck that is similar in nature to a police badge" — wrestled a woman to the ground "by grabbing her arm, with her head hitting the counter on the way to the ground," according to a police booking affidavit.
Once the woman was on the ground, Meguerditchian straddled her, forced her arms behind her back and handcuffed her, the affidavit states. He then led her to a car in the parking lot and drove away.
Officers were able to locate the vehicle and questioned Meguerditchian. He claimed that he and the woman were in a relationship and that she was "'freaking out' and he was trying to calm her down," according to the affidavit.
When asked about the badge, "Sarkis admitted that he used the badge to make people think he is a cop, to use it as 'protection,'" the affidavit alleges.
Meguerditchian was also wanted on a no-bail warrant at the time of his arrest on Sunday. He was charged in 3rd District Court on July 1 with aggravated burglary and aggravated robbery, both first-degree felonies; drug possession with intent to distribute, a second-degree felony; and assault, a class A misdemeanor, for allegedly robbing an acquaintance and assaulting him.
