Man threatened Salt Lake business with fake hand grenade, police say

SALT LAKE CITY — A man police say threatened a business by using a fake hand grenade was arrested by Salt Lake police who had to use force to take the man into custody.

Jared Ralph McDonald, 30, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail Thursday for investigation of making a threat of terrorism, aggravated assault, making a threat of violence, interfering with an arrest and trespassing.

About 2:30 p.m. Thursday, McDonald walked into a business at 5725 W. Amelia Earhart Drive and told employees "something to the effect of, 'If you're good with me, nothing will happen. If you're bad with me, something bad will happen,'" according to a police booking affidavit.

McDonald was asked to leave. But a few minutes later he "placed a hoax hand grenade on the counter and walked out. The hoax grenade is metallic and looks realistic," the affidavit states.

McDonald then walked to his car and put on a mask and a "tactical vest," according to police.

Officers who responded to the scene found McDonald still standing by his vehicle. He refused to follow the commands of officers, prompting them to use "physical force" to place him into custody, the affidavit says. Additional information about what type of physical force was used was not immediately available Friday.

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