Font Resize- Green Street shooting
- Nov 19:
- Salt Lake sheriff's deputy cleared in tavern shooting
- Nov 11:
- Prosecutors to review Green Street shooting
- Oct 31:
- Deputy in shooting is acclaimed drug cop
Arnold Taufa Pikula allegedly groped a woman at the Green Street Social Club, triggering a brawl that ended with his older brother being shot, according to sexual battery charges filed in 3rd District Court.
Salt Lake County sheriff's Detective Rudy Chacon, who shot and wounded 26-year-old John Junior Pikula in the early hours of Sept. 19, was exonerated Thursday of any wrongdoing.
The criminal charges against 21-year-old Arnold Pikula shed additional light on what started the melee at the Salt Lake City club.
Pikula was among a group of men being disrespectful and "hitting on" several women at the bar, according to charging documents.
When Pikula placed his hand over a woman's breast, others in her group -- which included Chacon, who was off-duty -- asked him to leave her alone and a fight broke out, the charges state.
The fight ended when Chacon, 33, fired one shot at John Pikula, who was standing over Chacon's younger brother and punching him.
The Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office said the shooting was justified because Chacon believed his brother would be seriously injured or killed.
When Salt Lake City police arrived, Arnold Pikula allegedly struck an officer in the jaw, causing him to fall backward, charges state. Pikula then struggled with other officers, who ultimately handcuffed him, charges state.
In addition to sexual battery, Arnold Pikula, was charged with assault against police
Arnold Pikula is to appear for a scheduling hearing on Nov. 24 before Judge Judith Atherton. He faces up to 2½ years in jail if convicted.
Chacon, who had been on leave, has been reinstated to active duty.
