A Unified Police Department officer was treated at a hospital Thursday after being attacked outside a Millcreek area smoke shop by a man who was ultimately restrained by several citizens.
The 28-year-old suspect had been causing a “disturbance” at the Murray Smoke Shop, 909 E. 4500 South, so employees locked him out, Unified Police Lt. Brian Lohrke said.
The man slammed then his body against a large window, and cracked it, prior to the arrival of the Unified police officer just before noon.
The officer shouted commands at the man, Lohrke said, which were ignored.
The man then moved toward the officer, who pulled his Taser. But the Taser didn’t work due to the man’s thick clothing, Lorke said.
The two began to fight and both went to the ground, where the man was able to get on top of the officer and began to punch him.
But a nearby witness and smoke shop employees came to the officer’s aid and restrained the man until other UPD officers arrived.
The injured officer — who has been with Unified Police for more than ten years — was taken to a hospital where he was treated for a laceration to his head and a possible concussion, and then released, according to Lohrke. He was released from the hospital about
The suspect was booked into the Salt Lake County jail on suspicion of assaulting a police office, criminal mischief and resisting arrest.
“We are grateful for the citizens who helped him,” UPD tweeted.