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MIDVALE — A man was arrested Monday after police say he broke into a home apparently at random and threatened the homeowner with a gun, then tried to escape on TRAX.
Tarus Artez, 54, was charged Wednesday in 3rd District Court with aggravated robbery and aggravated burglary, first-degree felonies; and possession of a gun by a restricted person, a third-degree felony.
A Midvale woman called police Monday after "she came home and was walking in her kitchen when (Artez) came out of a side room and pointed a gun at her. As the victim ran out of the house yelling to her neighbors, 'There's a man with a gun!' (Artez) picked up a duffel bag the victim had been carrying and left through a side window that he had entered through," a police booking affidavit states.
After leaving the home, police say Artez changed his clothes, putting the ones he was wearing into the duffel bag along "with the gun and tools that he used to break into the house," according to the affidavit.
Police put out a description of the man to surrounding agencies. He was spotted by Utah Transit Authority police while waiting to board a train at the Midvale TRAX platform, 7250 S. 180 West.
"UTA advised the main line to stop the train as soon as possible. The train was stopped at the Sandy Expo Station, 9375 S. 150 East," the affidavit states.
Artez was taken into custody at that time.
"During the arrest (Artez) was noncompliant and resisted being put into handcuffs. While being transported (he) had several excited utterances stating, 'I had a reason to do this,' 'The gun might be stolen,' and 'I am trying to protect my brother-in-law,'" according to the affidavit.
Artez claimed that after he broke into the woman's home, he waited 30 to 45 minutes for her to come home. He also "admitted to purchasing the firearm used in the incident several days prior," the affidavit alleges. "(He) also admitted to wanting to scare the victim with the firearm."
Unified police on Tuesday said that based on their investigation, detectives do not believe Artez and the woman knew each other. Prosecutors indicated in charging documents that police are also investigating another home burglary in which Artez is the suspect.
