SOUTH SALT LAKE — South Salt Lake Police officers pitched in to replace a woman's American flag after they say she used it to fight off a home intruder on Monday.
According to the department, 42-year-old Justin Scott Smith attempted to break into the woman's home in the area of 900 West and 3300 South shortly before 9 a.m.
Police say when the suspect entered the front yard through the gate and assaulted multiple people, the woman grabbed the flag pole with the flag attached to defend herself and family members. They say she hit the suspect multiple times, breaking the pole in the process, and the victims retreated into the home.
Smith kicked the door in and continued to assault those inside, police say, before officers arrived and took him into custody.
He was arrested on suspicion of assault, aggravated assault, aggravated burglary and criminal mischief.
After the incident, police say the woman was worried about desecrating the flag because the pole had broken and the flag had hit the ground, so officers took up a collection to replace it.
(Photo courtesy South Salt Lake Police)
