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Editor's note: The defendant in this case pleaded guilty Jan. 31 in a plea of abeyance to assault on a police officer, a third-degree felony, and assault, a class B misdemeanor. If he successfully completes mental health treatment and other conditions, the first charge will be dismissed after two years.
HIGHLAND — A man who police say had several weapons and prompted a five-hour standoff with a SWAT team is now facing criminal charges.
Bryce David Huntsman, 25, of Highland, was charged Tuesday in 4th District Court with assault on a police officer, a second-degree felony; threat of violence against a police officer, a class A misdemeanor; and assault, a class B misdemeanor.
On Sept. 16, Lone Peak police were called to a domestic violence incident at a home in Highland. Huntsman assaulted a family member, according to charging documents, and then "took a large knife from the kitchen and barricaded himself in his bedroom in the basement of the residence."
When officers arrived and attempted to talk to Huntsman through the door, he "stated he would kill officers if they entered his bedroom and that he had a lot of weapons and would defend himself," the charges state. Another family member told police there were guns in the bedroom, but was unsure if they were real or operable, police said.
The officers were given permission from other family members to kick down the door, but "found it reinforced by a nightstand, a chair and weights. (Huntsman) began yelling at officers for breaking his door and swung a makeshift spear, fashioned out of a 10- to 12-inch kitchen knife and a weight bar or pole, at (an) officer as he breached the door. The spear came within inches of (the) officer's arm," according to the charges.
Huntsman then took cover in a closet, and officers said they could see several weapons in the room. A SWAT team was called and after trying to negotiate with him for 5½ hours, pepper spray was deployed and Huntsman was taken into custody without further incident.
