PUBLIC RELATIONS UNIT

December 17, 2022

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact Information: PolicePRUnit@slcgov.com

SLCPD SWAT Team Safely Arrest Wanted Fugitive

SALT LAKE CITY — Overnight, the Salt Lake City Police Department’s SWAT Team safely arrested 34-year-old Donald Zephry Woehler after he barricaded himself inside a residence in Kearns.

On Friday December 16, 2022, detectives with the Salt Lake City Police Department’s Robbery and Violent Crimes Squad requested help locating Woehler who had an outstanding warrant for a 2019 aggravated assault case.

SLCPD detectives went to Woehler’s last known address in the 4400-block of West Sun Drive in Kearns, Utah and began watching the house to see if Woehler was home.

While watching the house, detectives saw Woehler leave on a motorcycle. He drove the motorcycle in a reckless manner to spot anyone following him.

Detectives continued watchinh the house and Woehler later returned. Members of the SLCPD’s Violent Criminal Apprehension Team (VCAT) safely approached the house and knocked on the door and made multiple attempts to communicate with Woehler.

Due to the circumstances, the on-scene incident commander requested the assistance of SLCPD SWAT and Crisis Negotiators. These highly trained teams provide patrol officers and detectives with additional resources. The crisis negotiation team includes social workers who also responded.

Detectives learned Woehler barricaded himself inside the home and initially refused commands to exit.

Woehler eventually came out of the home without further incident. Detectives transported him to the Salt Lake County Metro Jail.

The SLCPD Violent Criminal Apprehension Team (VCAT) is a specialty unit within the department responsible for combating violent crime, by identifying and apprehending violent criminals and fugitives.  This unit works under the SLCPD Special Operations Division but also works closely with the Investigations, Patrol and Data and Research divisions to identify and direct targeted enforcement of hot spot areas and areas of rising violent crime.

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.

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