Latest news with #ProvoPolice
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Yahoo
What the police report made by Jake Retzlaff's accuser says
The Provo Police Department released a report Friday made by a woman alleging she was sexually assaulted while on a date with a man she declined to name but police say is likely the incident referred to in a civil lawsuit she filed against BYU quarterback Jake Ratzleff. Along with the incident report, which was made public as a result of a Deseret News request under Utah's Government Records Access and Management Act, police provided a letter of explanation. On Wednesday, a woman identified in court documents as Jane Doe A.G. filed a civil lawsuit in Salt Lake City against Ratzleff alleging he 'raped, strangled and bit' her in his apartment on Nov. 22, 2023. Mark Baute, an attorney for Ratzleff, issued a statement Wednesday saying Retzlaff is 'factually innocent' and that he will 'establish Jake's innocence through the judicial system.' Ratzleff has not been criminally charged. Retzlaff's name does not appear in the police report released Friday. The woman's name is redacted in the report. The officer who took the woman's report over the phone on Nov. 27, 2023, noted that she was willing to describe the events that took place, but hesitated at identifying the suspect. According to the report, she 'described her male friend as a 20-year-old man who she had known since childhood.' She told police they went on a 'date recently, where she went to his house.' At some point, they started kissing and he bit her lip in 'such a way that it kept her mouth shut.' She told the officer that despite not taking any 'unusual substances,' she began to lose consciousness and 'blacked out' several times, according to the report. 'She mentioned that his hand went around her neck for a bit. She recalled waking up and leaving after blacking out,' the report says. 'When asked directly, she stated that the encounter was not consensual 'that I can remember.'' The woman described that man as having dark hair but hesitated to describe him in greater detail and told the officer she wanted to wait a few days to think about identifying him. The report says she expressed apprehension about the possibility that he would find out that she had called police and the officer encouraged her to call as soon as she felt comfortable. The officer forwarded the case to Provo's special victims unit. The officer also met with a forensic nurse at American Fork Hospital on Nov. 27, 2023, where she gave the officer a sexual assault evidence kit, which the officer took to the police station and placed into evidence, the report says. On Nov. 30, 2023, another Provo officer reviewed the case and noted that the officer who took the initial report indicated that the woman was reluctant to provide suspect information and would contact police if she decided to go further. Police closed the case pending her providing more information and desiring to move forward with the investigation, the report says. In its public records request, the Deseret News sought all Provo police reports relating to Jake Ratzleff from 2023 through 2025. The letter of explanation that accompanied the release of the incident report says the department has no such records in its system nor does it have any police reports from that time period alleging a sexual assault by an unnamed BYU football player. 'We are, of course, aware of the recent news coverage of a lawsuit filed by a woman with the initials A.G. stating that she was sexually assaulted in November 2023 by Jake Retzlaff,' according to the letter signed by Angela Galbraith, Provo Police records supervisor. 'Because the complaint alleged this assault had been reported to Provo Police, the department issued a press release indicating that they believe they have identified the relevant report.' In her lawsuit, Jane Doe A.G. claims that after she reported the alleged sexual assault, Provo Police 'encouraged her not to do anything because, as they claimed, 'sexual assault victims never get justice.'' The police department in its Wednesday statement disputed the claim that an officer told the woman sexual assault victims don't get justice. 'From everything we have reviewed, this is not true. We have a team of dedicated investigators and victim advocates whose sole mission is to provide justice to victims of sexual abuse. They do not send people away, warning them there is no justice for victims,' Provo police spokeswoman Janna-Lee Holland said in the statement. Records show the department received a phone report on Nov. 27, 2023, from a woman with the initials A.G. who gave a similar account to the one in the lawsuit, according to Holland. Holland said she was treated with 'courtesy and care' and given several opportunities to identify her abuser but declined to do so, and the case was subsequently closed. She said 'collected evidence was examined, and it revealed no actionable investigative leads.' The department's victim advocates followed up several times to offer services but received no response, Holland said. 'Because the civil suit does not identify the victim, we cannot be certain our police report is the same incident referenced by the plaintiff, but it does seem likely given the information we have,' according to Holland.
15-05-2025
Utah Supreme Court orders new trial for man on death row after police misconduct surfaces
SALT LAKE CITY -- The Utah Supreme Court ruled Thursday that 'numerous constitutional violations' during the trial and sentencing of a man who spent decades on death row merit a new trial. Justices affirmed the ruling of a lower court judge who had ordered a new trial for Douglas Stewart Carter after finding issues with how police and prosecutors handled his case. Carter, 69, was sentenced to death in 1985 after a jury found him guilty of murdering Eva Olesen, the aunt of a former Provo police chief who was found stabbed a dozen times and shot in the head. While no physical evidence linked him to the crime scene, prosecutors convicted Carter, a Black man, based on a written confession and two witnesses who said he had bragged about killing Olesen, a white woman. Carter has argued his confession was coerced. In 2019, the Utah Supreme Court sent Carter's case back to a lower court for review after the witnesses — two immigrants without legal status — said police and prosecutors offered to pay their rent, coached them to lie in court and threatened to deport them or their son if they did not implicate Carter. Judge Derek Pullan ordered a new trial in 2022, saying the witness testimonies and police misconduct prejudiced the original trial. The Utah Attorney General's office appealed, leading to the high court's decision Thursday. 'There is no question that these numerous constitutional violations — suppressing evidence, suborning perjury, and knowingly failing to correct false testimony — prejudiced Carter at both his trial and sentencing,' Justice Paige Petersen wrote in the high court's opinion. It's rare, she added, to see a case involving 'multiple instances of intentional misconduct' by two police officers, including the lead investigator, and a prosecutor. Provo Police Lt. George Pierpont had obtained the confession from Carter, and Officer Richard Mack gathered witness statements. The postconviction court also found that prosecutor Wayne Watson was present when police directed a witness to lie, and that he did not correct the false testimony during trial. Carter remains in prison while he awaits a new trial, said his attorney, Eric Zuckerman. 'Mr. Carter has spent more than forty years behind bars because of an unconstitutional conviction rooted in police and prosecutorial misconduct — including the suborning of perjury before a jury of his peers,' Zuckerman said in a statement. "We are gratified that both the trial court and the Utah Supreme Court have validated Mr. Carter's claims. But no ruling can restore the four decades of freedom the state of Utah unjustly took from him.' Carter is among several inmates involved in a separate lawsuit challenging Utah's execution methods and protocols. Olesen's family has repeatedly expressed frustration that the decades-old murder case is ongoing. 'We extend our hearts and sympathies to the family of Eva Olesen, who have sought justice for her murder the last 40 years," said Madison McMicken, a spokesperson for Utah Attorney General Derek Brown. 'We are disappointed the Olesen family does not yet have a resolution in this case.'
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Yahoo
Utah Supreme Court orders new trial for man on death row after police misconduct surfaces
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The Utah Supreme Court ruled Thursday that 'numerous constitutional violations' during the trial and sentencing of a man who spent decades on death row merit a new trial. Justices affirmed the ruling of a lower court judge who had ordered a new trial for Douglas Stewart Carter after finding issues with how police and prosecutors handled his case. Carter, 69, was sentenced to death in 1985 after a jury found him guilty of murdering Eva Olesen, the aunt of a former Provo police chief who was found stabbed a dozen times and shot in the head. While no physical evidence linked him to the crime scene, prosecutors convicted Carter, a Black man, based on a written confession and two witnesses who said he had bragged about killing Olesen, a white woman. Carter has argued his confession was coerced. In 2019, the Utah Supreme Court sent Carter's case back to a lower court for review after the witnesses — two immigrants without legal status — said police and prosecutors offered to pay their rent, coached them to lie in court and threatened to deport them or their son if they did not implicate Carter. Judge Derek Pullan ordered a new trial in 2022, saying the witness testimonies and police misconduct prejudiced the original trial. The Utah Attorney General's office appealed, leading to the high court's decision Thursday. 'There is no question that these numerous constitutional violations — suppressing evidence, suborning perjury, and knowingly failing to correct false testimony — prejudiced Carter at both his trial and sentencing,' Justice Paige Petersen wrote in the high court's opinion. It's rare, she added, to see a case involving 'multiple instances of intentional misconduct' by two police officers, including the lead investigator, and a prosecutor. Provo Police Lt. George Pierpont had obtained the confession from Carter, and Officer Richard Mack gathered witness statements. The postconviction court also found that prosecutor Wayne Watson was present when police directed a witness to lie, and that he did not correct the false testimony during trial. Carter remains in prison while he awaits a new trial, said his attorney, Eric Zuckerman. 'Mr. Carter has spent more than forty years behind bars because of an unconstitutional conviction rooted in police and prosecutorial misconduct — including the suborning of perjury before a jury of his peers,' Zuckerman said in a statement. "We are gratified that both the trial court and the Utah Supreme Court have validated Mr. Carter's claims. But no ruling can restore the four decades of freedom the state of Utah unjustly took from him.' Carter is among several inmates involved in a separate lawsuit challenging Utah's execution methods and protocols. Olesen's family has repeatedly expressed frustration that the decades-old murder case is ongoing. 'We extend our hearts and sympathies to the family of Eva Olesen, who have sought justice for her murder the last 40 years," said Madison McMicken, a spokesperson for Utah Attorney General Derek Brown. 'We are disappointed the Olesen family does not yet have a resolution in this case.'
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Yahoo
18-year-old robs Provo students at gunpoint, police say
PROVO, Utah (ABC4) — Three Independence High School students in Provo were held up at gunpoint on Thursday, according to Provo Police. At around 1:15 p.m. on May 1, staff at Independence High informed the School Resource Officer (SRO) that a student wished to report an incident that had occurred around two hours prior. The student reportedly told the SRO that he and two other students were returning to school from an off-campus class when they were approached by a gray Chevrolet sedan. A male suspect then exited the vehicle, the student said, pointed a gun at him and the two other students, and demanded they give up their belongings. Two students reportedly had bags, which they surrendered. The SRO began investigating the incident, obtaining camera footage from the school. The footage showed the suspect vehicle described with two individuals inside passing by the school. At around 11:30 p.m. that night, police were able to identify and locate the vehicle. Officers then found the main suspect — identified as Michael Javier Flores, 18 — and placed him under arrest. Detectives interviewed Flores, who was then taken to Utah County Jail and booked on charges of aggravated robbery (first-degree felony) and property damage (class A misdemeanor). 'Investigators are still trying to identify and locate the second suspect,' a press release from Provo Police states. 'Anyone with information is encouraged to contact police at 801-852-6210.' No further information is available at this time. Provo police searching for vandals who damaged LDS Church Collins has 'serious objections' to parts of Trump 2026 budget Real Salt Lake visits high-flying Vancouver in search of back-to-back results 18-year-old robs Provo students at gunpoint, police say Senate GOP chair knocks Trump budget over military spending Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Daily Mail
27-04-2025
- Daily Mail
Utah man arrested after cops stumble upon 71 homemade bombs in his apartment
A Utah man was arrested after police discovered 71 homemade bombs and a substantial stockpile of bomb-making materials inside his Orem apartment, according to Provo Police. Eric Whitaker, 41, was taken into custody on Friday after allegedly brandishing a weapon near the Provo Towne Centre Mall. Following his arrest, authorities secured a search warrant for his apartment. Inside, officers uncovered bomb-making supplies and 'a large number of home-made improvised explosive anti-personnel fragmentation grenade devices,' Provo Police said in a press release. The Metro Bomb Squad was called to the scene, prompting the evacuation of the apartment building as the devices were recovered safely. In total, 71 homemade explosive devices were seized along with additional bomb-making materials. Whitaker is now facing 71 counts of possession of weapons of mass destruction and one count of possessing bomb-making materials. The case has been referred to the Utah County Attorney's Office. 'We are grateful for the expert training, skills, and equipment that our Metro Bomb Squad officers provide during their response to EOD incidents, protecting our investigators as well as our community,' Provo Police said in a statement. 'We are proud of our Patrol Officers for their fast response to the initial report of suspicious activity, and their continued assistance to our Detectives during the follow-up investigation. 'We also appreciate Orem PD's Patrol Division for assisting in the evacuation measures during the search warrant.' This case follows just a month after a would-be suicide bomber in the UK was jailed for plotting to 'kill as many nurses as possible' in a pressure cooker explosion at a hospital in Leeds. Mohammad Farooq brought a homemade bomb— modeled after the 2013 Boston Marathon devices but packed with twice as much explosive —into St James's Hospital in January 2023. He was talked out of carrying out the attack by patient Nathan Newby, whom Justice Cheema-Grubb described as 'an extraordinary, ordinary man whose decency and an atrocity in a maternity wing of a major British hospital.' Farooq, a clinical support worker, had targeted the hospital after failing to access the American base at RAF Menwith Hill and was found guilty after a jury deliberated for less than two hours. Police found him with a viable bomb, knives, black tape, and a blank-firing imitation firearm. Whitaker is now facing 71 counts of possession of weapons of mass destruction and one count of possessing bomb-making materials An investigation revealed he had been self-radicalized online and obtained bomb-making instructions from an Al Qaeda publication. Bethan David, head of the CPS Counter Terrorism Division, said: 'Farooq is an extremely dangerous individual who amassed a significant amount of practical and theoretical information that enabled him to produce a viable explosive extremist views Farooq holds are a threat to our society, and I am pleased the jury found him guilty of his crimes.'
