This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A standoff between police and a fugitive wanted on drug and firearms warrants ended early Thursday morning when SWAT officers forced entry into a Kearns home and took the suspect and a female companion into custody.
Unified Police Lt. Justin Hoyal said Metro Gang Unit investigators were checking the address, near 4700 South and 4500 West, about 11:45 p.m. Wednesday on information that the 30-year-old man may be there.
"He was wanted on several outstanding felony warrants," Hoyal said, "including one for possession of a controlled substance, another for fleeing law enforcement and one for possession of a firearm by a restricted person."
Officers knocked on the front door and a 24-year-old female answered. A short time later, she cut off the conversation and shut the door, but other officers, looking through a window, spotted the male suspect inside the home.
Dozens of officers surrounded the neighborhood, Hoyal said, as residents of neighboring homes were evacuated, some of them taking shelter from the cold night in police cruisers.
A search warrant was sought and took effect by the time UPD's SWAT unit arrived. At 2:30 a.m. Thursday, after numerous, unsuccessful efforts to persuade occupants of the home to come out, SWAT forced entry through the front door and called out to the two once more.
"At that point both of them came out and surrendered," Hoyal said.
Police eventually released the woman pending screening of possible charges against her, including harboring a fugitive.
The male suspect was booked into the Salt Lake County jail, where he was being held Thursday without bail on the previous arrest warrants.
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