COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS, Utah -- Did someone try to steal a large cache of firearms belonging to gun lobbyist Clark Aposhian? Aposhian told Fox 13 News no, but a police report seems to indicate otherwise.
According to that police report, a friend of Aposhian rented a storage unit where they allegedly stashed roughly 300 guns, anticipating Aposhian would be ordered to surrender the weapons as domestic stalking and protective orders were filed against him.
But just hours after the guns were placed in the storage unit, Aposhian and his friend told police someone tried to break into it.
Sgt. Mark Askerlund, Cottonwood Heights Police Department, said the storage unit at Towne Storage was host to part of Aposhian’s arsenal.
"The report indicates that in that storage shed were firearms that belong to Mr. Clark Aposhian, that they were placed there for safekeeping,” Askerlund said.
According to court documents, "Aposhian… stated that… the firearms were moved in… the night before as ‘protective action.'" The documents indicate Aposhian put the weapons there because, “Aposhian had a valid protective order and a stalking injunction against him and cannot legally possess a firearm."
The police report states there were more than 300 guns in the storage unit. Just hours after Aposhian left court, Aposhian’s friend called police to report an attempted theft at the unit. The report indicates there were pry marks on the door to the unit.
When Fox 13 News asked Aposhian about any attempted thefts at any storage shed he had access to where any of his guns might have been stored, he said he had no idea what we were talking about.
But police said Aposhian was aware of the police report regarding the theft at the unit.
"He was there when the police report was taken, yes,” Askerlund said.
Aposhian reportedly told the officer at the scene the reason he wanted to store his guns in a storage shed was because he thought his local popularity would make it hard for him to store them safely anywhere else.
Askerlund said if it were him, he would store the guns elsewhere.
"Well if I had a large collection of weapons I wouldn’t keep them in a storage shed, that's my personal choice,” he said. “I don't know whether or not Mr. Aposhian feels that way."
Fox 13 News spoke with Aposhian Tuesday, who reiterated that he never rented any storage unit nor mislead anyone about that. Police said they’ve been told the weapons have since been moved to a different location.
