PUBLIC RELATIONS UNIT

July 23, 2022

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact Information: PolicePRUnit@slcgov.com

SLCPD Officers Quickly and Safely Arrest Driver Who Accessed the Days of 47 Parade Route

SALT LAKE CITY — Today, Salt Lake City Police officers working the Days of 47 Parade quickly and safely arrested a 42-year-old man who drove his car around a road closure and accessed the parade route while attempting to get to his nearby home.

There were no injuries associated with this incident and no significant disruptions to the parade.

This investigation started at approximately 10:15 a.m. on Saturday July 23, 2022 at 100 East 200 South when a man, later identified as John Kotun, approached officers on foot and asked if he could go around the road closure to get home.

Hours earlier, officers secured the parade route and put in place a hard closure – meaning no outside vehicle traffic would be permitted along the parade route.

The officers repeatedly told the driver he could not pass. To help the man get home, officers suggested he park his car nearby and walk to his residence.

The driver left in his car without incident.

Out of an abundance of caution, the two officers repositioned themselves to get a better vantage point of the parade route.

When the officers looked out, they saw the man attempting to drive around the road closure. The officers immediately contacted the driver for a second time and told him he could not access the parade route.

The man left, again, without incident, and the officers continued to maintain a heightened awareness around their post.

Shortly after turning the man around for a second time, the officer saw the man had successfully gotten through an opening where parade staff and parade equipment was set up. The man was driving slowly on the parade route.

Our officers immediately ran over and started waiving down the driver as he remained traveling at slow speeds.

SLCPD officers ordered the man to stop the car, but he began accelerating slowly.

Due to the potential danger, officers opened the car door and successfully put the car in park and got the driver out without further incident.

The driver continued to reiterate that his apartment was nearby, and he was trying to get home.

Officers confirmed the driver’s identity and confirmed his residence was in the area where he told officers he was going.

Based on the preliminary investigation, while speaking to officers, the man acknowledged he should not have driven onto the parade route.

The driver got about a half-block (149 East 200 South) before being stopped and safely removed from the car.

Officers cited, and released, Kotun with one count of Failing to Obey a Traffic Control Device and one count of Unlawfully Driving Left of Center.

Charges are only allegations, and every arrested person is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

There are no photos available with this incident.

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