- Four protesters were arrested near the proposed Salt Lake City immigrant detention center.
- They allegedly interfered with a traffic stop near the protest site on Saturday.
- They are accused of obstruction of justice and wearing a mask with intent to commit crime.
SALT LAKE CITY — Four people participating in a protest at the proposed immigrant detention center in Salt Lake City were arrested over the weekend for allegedly interfering with a traffic stop police were conducting nearby.
About 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Salt Lake City police stopped a vehicle near 5700 West and 300 South for a minor traffic violation. The driver told officers he was there in support of others who were outside a warehouse, 6020 W. 300 South, protesting the purchase of the facility by ICE, which plans to turn the building into a detention facility.
Police learned that the driver only had a learner's permit and not an actual license, said Sgt. Greg Wilking.
But as officers were sorting out the traffic stop, several protesters "approached the traffic stop and were actively interfering with the stop," a police booking affidavit states. Wilking says the group was told they could film the police activity, but they were also told several times to move back to give officers room to do their job.
"These individuals engaged in behavior which put the officer's safety at risk due to the fact it directed their attention away from the traffic stop and onto the individuals approaching the officers on the traffic stop," the affidavit states.
A 20-year-old woman "was given multiple commands by officers on scene to disperse," but "continued to stay in the area and would not listen to verbal commands," the affidavit states.
When an officer finally told the woman to "sit down," she started to run.
"Due to the (woman) running away on foot and not listening to verbal commands, officers pursued after her and had to physically stop her and place her into handcuffs in order to get her to stop. While this was occurring, the (woman) was actively wearing a mask concealing her identity," according to the affidavit.
As that woman was being arrested, Wilking said other protesters tried to intervene.
A 34-year-old man "ran towards officers as they were arresting the other individual … and continued to maintain an aggressive posture feet away from the arresting officers while violently yelling," according to the affidavit. When police told the man that he was now being detained, he attempted to run off.
"Officers then forced him to the ground, and he continued to physically resist and ignore commands to place his hands behind his back. During a search … officers located a handgun concealed within his clothing," the affidavit states.
A second man, 26, who also tried to prevent officers from arresting the woman, was arrested. When he was searched, police found "a large out-the-front tactical style switchblade knife," a booking affidavit states.
A 29-year-old woman was arrested after grabbing an officer and trying to pull him off one of the others being arrested.
All four were arrested for investigation of obstruction of justice and wearing a mask with the intent to commit a crime. The three who tried to help the first woman being arrested were also booked on suspicion of rioting and interfering with police.
The driver originally pulled over was issued a citation and released.
