Update: West Valley City Police say there wasn’t an explosive device under Robert Burch’s vehicle, and that a “catastrophic failure” of his air conditioning system caused the loud boom. Read the latest here.
West Valley City police and the FBI are investigating an incident where a legislative candidate says an explosive device was left under his car and detonated but did not harm him nor his family.
A June 2 police report says Democrat Robert Burch, who is running against incumbent Rep. Mike Winder, R-West Valley City, reported that his wife had just backed the car out of their garage.
“He opened the back hatch and heard a ‘boom’ come from under the car and noted white dust,” the police report says.
After the dust settled, Burch gathered cloth and plastic remnants from under the car and took them to a mechanic to see if they were pieces that belong on the car but was told they were not from the vehicle. Burch then took the pieces to West Valley Police and reported the incident.
“Mr. Burch is an African American male, but he never mentioned he believed he was targeted because of his race,” the police report said. “He did, however, tell the officer that he is running for public office and wondered if someone was attempting to harm him. Mr. Burch did not report having received any threats.”
Burch could not be reached immediately for comment.
The report said police went to Burch’s home to search for additional evidence and found “small white burn marks” in the asphalt in front of the house. Police also said some neighbors “reported hearing a sound they interpreted as a tire popping,” but no one saw the incident, nor did anyone see anything suspicious prior to the incident
The report said West Valley City Police is working with the FBI in the investigation, and is trying to retrieve fingerprints from the debris.
Besides running for the Legislature, Burch’s Facebook page notes that he is executive director of Sema Hadithi, a history museum that tells the story of African American culture in Utah. He is also president of the Utah Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society.
A few days after the incident, he also posted on Facebook a photo of candles burning outside his home, saying, “We have been living in some crazy times here lately with the pandemic, an earthquake, protest and riots, and violence as close as our own neighborhood. But sometimes people do the unexpected. Our ward family came to visit tonight with lights, song, and kind thoughts. You have shown us so much kindness starting from our wedding celebration to today. Thank you all so much.”
Burch’s opponent, Mike Winder, also tweeted that what happened was “a horrible incident.”
“Learned of this horrible incident today that happened to my legislative opponent. Robert & Alice Burch are two of the nicest people in our city and my heart goes out to them!”
State Senate Democratic leader Karen Mayne, whose district include parts of House District 30, also tweeted, “Beyond horrible! This is my community, my home. We are diverse and accepting. This is NOT who we are!”