3 days ago
Man accused of assaulting victims during ‘mostly peaceful' anti-ICE protest in Salt Lake City
SALT LAKE CITY () — One man was taken into custody after he was accused of assaulting two people during that took place in Salt Lake City on Thursday night.
Lander Gomez, 22, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail, where he faces charges of second-degree felony robbery and misdemeanor charges of riot, assault, and criminal mischief.
Police say Gomez was part of a group of individuals that ripped an American Flag out of the hands of one victim and punched the victim in the face just after 9 p.m., after many demonstrators had already left.
Salt Lake City officers said they then witnessed Gomez punch a second victim in the face at least once.
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Officers said the alleged assaults were recorded on video by other protesters as well as SLCPD drone footage, where a group of five to 10 people, including Gomez, were 'throwing their fists' at the victims.
According to court records, neither victim attempted to retaliate against the alleged assault, with the first victim described as actively keeping his hands in the air and attempting to get away from Gomez. Police also noted that 'participants in the demonstration worked to mitigate and defuse several agitators provoking fights.'
Gomez was booked on the aforementioned charges. Court records show he was ordered to be held on a $5,000 bail.
Gomez was the only arrest made during the protest that saw over 1,000 people gather at Washington Square Park near 400 South and State Street. Aside from the lone fight that broke out at the end of the night, the Salt Lake City Police Department said it was also investigating the vandalism of a Tesla that was parked on the side of the street.
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Overall, SLCPD Chief Brian Redd said he was thankful that the demonstration remained mostly peaceful and that participants made a genuine effort to keep the protest respectful and lawful.
'That is our expectation and doing so respects the values of our community,' said Chief Redd. 'As there are future demonstrations, we expect everyone to follow the law and to avoid confrontations that could turn violent. I also appreciate the hard work of our Salt Lake City police officers and those from allied agencies for their professionalism and coordination. Our top priority is public safety, which includes doing everything we can to keep safe while protecting our community.'
More demonstrations for 'No Kings Day,' a day set in response to a planned military parade in Washington, D.C., to honor the Army's 25th birthday and President Donald Trump's 79th birthday.
Protests are expected to take place at the University of Utah and downtown in Salt Lake City as well as in Ogden, Provo, Moab, St. George and several other Utah cities. Multiple agencies have said there is no information indicating the planned protests will be anything other than peaceful.
Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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