PUBLIC RELATIONS UNIT

September 26, 2022

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact Information: PolicePRUnit@slcgov.com

SLCPD Patrol Officers Manage Multiple Priority Calls, Recover Several Weapons

SALT LAKE CITY — Today, Chief Mike Brown expressed his appreciation to the women and men of the Salt Lake City Police Department for their work handling several high priority calls and recovering multiple weapons to help ensure community safety.

“Individually, these calls for service can happen any day and our officers do an extraordinary job of responding to them,” said Chief Mike Brown. “But today, across all three of our patrol divisions, our officers had to manage several high priority calls for service in a short period of time. This certainly placed a significant strain on our patrol officers, and put them at risk of injury. But, as our community would expect, they did an excellent job handling these situations quickly and safely to help ensure the safety of our community and I’m proud of their work.”

Incident 1: Weapons Recovered from Highland High School

This investigation started at 10:24 a.m. when School Resource Officers with the SLCPD recovered two loaded firearms from two students at Highland High School.

Both suspects have been booked into a Salt Lake County Juvenile Detention Center on charges of Possession of a Dangerous Weapon on School Premises, Possession of a Weapon by a Restricted Person, Possession of Marijuana, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

For more information, please click here.

Two photos of the firearms recovered are being released.

Incident 2: Recovered Stolen Firearm

This investigation started at 10:24 a.m. when SLC911 received information about a person trespassing at a business located near 1700 West North Temple. The suspect, later identified as Marcus Rouse, refused to cooperate with officers and then fought with officers.

Officers were able to safely get Rouse into custody without further incident. During their investigation, officers located a firearm, later determined to be stolen, inside Rouse’s backpack.

Officers booked Rouse into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail on charges of Defacing a Firearm, Possession of a Stolen Firearm, Obstruction of Justice, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Possession of a Dangerous Weapon by a Restricted Person.

A photo of the firearm recovered is being released.

Additionally, the Salt Lake City Police Department would like to acknowledge the off-duty member of law enforcement who assisted with the arrest but left prior to officers being able to thank him for his assistance in taking Rouse into custody.

Incident 3: Aggravated Assault

This investigation started at 11:21 a.m. when SLC911 received information about a stabbing at a motel located near 1900 South State Street. Officers arrived and found the victim with a knife stuck in his leg. Officers immediately provided the victim with medical attention, which included applying a tourniquet.

During the investigation officers learned the suspect and the victim got into an argument. The victim started riding away on a bicycle when the suspect grabbed a knife and threw it at the victim, which lodged in the victim’s leg.

This does not appear to be a random incident. Everyone involved seemed to know each other.

Officers searched the area but could not locate the suspect. Detectives with the SLCPD’s Robbery and Violent Crimes Unit responded to the scene to speak with the victim and witnesses.

No arrests have been made and detectives are working to locate the suspect.

A photo from the scene is being released.

Incident 4: Aggravated Assault

This investigation started at 12:16 p.m. when SLC911 received information about a person inside a business near 400 West and 500 South with a box cutter.

While responding, officers learned the suspect had cut a woman inside the store for no apparent reason.

A security guard confronted the suspect, later identified as 27-year-old Magalay Buwa.

Buwa threatened to kill the security guard and any police officers who responded.

Officers got on scene and attempted to take Buwa into custody, but he ran across the street.

Eventually, officers were able to safely take Buwa into custody and booked him into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail on charges of Aggravated Assault and Failure to Stop/Fleeing on Foot.

A photo of the knife is being released.

Incident 5: Person with a Weapon

This investigation started at 12:21 p.m. when SLC911 received information about a person with a weapon walking along State Street near 1300 South. An officer in the area located the suspect and confirmed he had a large knife in his hand.

The officer maintained a safe distance from the man and kept watching him until additional units responded.

The officers safely took 19-year-old Alfred Tipo into custody and booked him into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail on charges of Possession of a Dangerous Weapon and Disorderly Conduct.

SLCPD officers remain committed to reducing violent crime and helping ensure our neighborhoods and schools are safe.

The SLCPD continues to encourage people to call 9-1-1 and report any suspicious or criminal activity.

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

The Salt Lake City Police Department is not the custodian of record for jail booking photos. Utah Code 17-22-30 mostly prohibits the release of jail booking photos. Generally, a jail booking photo can only be released by the custodian of record after a conviction or when law enforcement determines the person is a fugitive or an imminent threat to a person or public safety. In Salt Lake City, the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office is the custodian of record for jail booking photos.

###