Estimated read time: 3-4 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 Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information.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.
DUCHESNE — An Orem man convicted of breaking the windows of a police vehicle just a month ago has now been arrested and accused of following around deputes working at the Duchesne County Fair over the weekend and trying to take a deputy's gun.
Dorian Malachi Mecham, 19, was booked into the Duchesne County Jail on Tuesday for investigation of disarming a police officer, making a terroristic threat, failing to stop at the command of law enforcement and disorderly conduct.
On Saturday, a deputy working at the fair was talking to citizens when Mehcam walked toward him "watching me closely," the deputy wrote in a police booking affidavit. The deputy lost sight of Mecham. But a few minutes later, he saw another deputy who was also helping with fair security running near the main entrance of the the Duchesne County Centennial Event Center.
The deputy stated that Mecham had attempted to disarm him, the affidavit states.
The deputies were not able to find Mecham. But when they went back and reviewed video surveillance, they said they noticed that he was "following multiple deputies" that night. He is seen walking to the event center while keeping an eye on at least four deputies and other first responders, according to the affidavit.
"Dorian does this on two separate occasions, watching the deputies and first responders closely. Dorian spent approximately 20 to 30 minutes following and attempting to approach deputies. The second time Dorian comes into the building, Dorian watches the deputies and first responders in (the command center) then exits where he is seen leaning against the trailer. Dorian starts talking to himself, gets up then is seen walking toward the food court," the affidavit states.
He is then seen on video walking behind a deputy going to the command center. As the deputy opens the door for citizens who are walking out, "you see Dorian grab (the deputy's) service weapon and try to disarm (him)," according to the arrest report.
"Video footage from the Duchesne County Fair showed Dorian take the time to follow deputies and waited until (a deputy) was entering into the command center to try to disarm (him)."
The deputy is able to push Mecham away, but then lost him as he ran through the crowd.
On Tuesday, deputies went to Mecham's Orem home with a search warrant and to arrest him. While driving him back to the Duchesne County Jail, "there were multiple attempts of Dorian trying to get out of his handcuffs," the affidavit states.
Mecham pleaded guilty July 18 to two counts of criminal mischief, according to court records. Those pleas were ordered to be held in abeyance for two years and would be dismissed if he completed the terms of his probation, which included successfully completing mental health court.
He pleaded guilty in that case to damaging a police vehicle that was parked at an officer's home using a hammer. Witnesses said Mecham made derogatory comments toward law enforcement while damaging the police vehicle, according to police booking affidavits.
"The suspect damaged the police vehicle as well as a personal vehicle belonging to the victim. The damage to the police vehicle involves the front windshield, front bumper ripped off, side mirrors damaged, and taillights broken. The personal vehicle has the front windshield broken," the affidavit states.
