NewsLocal News

Actions

21 police officers injured, 41 arrests made after protest escalates in Salt Lake City

protest.JPG
Posted at 8:44 AM, May 31, 2020
and last updated 2020-05-31 18:09:07-04

SALT LAKE CITY — An initially peaceful protest that turned violent on Saturday resulted in 41 arrests and 21 police officers injured, Salt Lake City Police Chief Mike Brown said in an update Sunday.

Most arrests were for "failure to disperse," Brown said, along with assault on police officers and violating the curfew imposed by SLC Mayor Erin Mendenhall.

Two vehicles were flipped over and set on fire, including an unoccupied police vehicle.

SLCPD shared photos of multiple individuals wanted for questioning in the destruction of the police car and asked for the public's help in identifying them:

One of those injured officers was reportedly hit in the back of the head with a baseball bat. He was wearing a helmet, but was still transported to a hospital. Several were treated for heat exhaustion.

SWAT teams and members of the National Guard were called in, and Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall issued a curfew that remains in effect until Monday at 6 a.m.

Multiple crews are downtown, working on cleanup efforts.