Salt Lake City cops assaulted in homeless shelter fracas

A fracas at a downtown Salt Lake City homeless shelter escalated when a transient also assaulted responding police officers.

Salt Lake City police Detective Veronica Montoya said officers were called to The Road Home at 210 S. Rio Grande just before noon on Tuesday. The suspect, a 32-year-old man, had allegedly attacked the shelter staff and refused to leave the premises.

Officers approached the man, who still refused to leave, and then fought them as officers attempted to take him into custody. Eventually, officers shocked the suspect with a Taser, but as they handcuffed and transported him to a police cruiser, he resumed screaming and kicking the officers, Montoya said.

Neither the officers nor the suspect required medical attention for minor scrapes and bruises.

Police learned that the 6-foot-2, 180-pound man has several warrants out for his arrest connected to past alleged violence. He was booked into the Salt Lake County jail in lieu of more than $6,000 bail on second-degree assault by a prisoner and numerous misdemeanors for interference with an officer, disorderly conduct and assault.

remims@sltrib.com

Twitter: @remims