PUBLIC RELATIONS UNIT

January 20, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact Information: PolicePRUnit@slcgov.com

SLCPD SWAT Team, Bike Squad Arrest Felon

SALT LAKE CITY — Overnight, the Salt Lake City Police Department safely arrested 44-year-old Juan Garibaldi, a wanted felon, who is accused of running away from officers and barricading himself inside a motel room.

This investigation started at 8:37 p.m., on Thursday, January 19, 2023 when a SLCPD Pioneer Division Bike Officer tried to stop a man riding a bicycle, later identified as Garibaldi, for a traffic violation near 850 West North Temple Street.

Garibaldi refused to stop and took off.

Additional officers immediately surrounded the area to look for Garibaldi.

Officers saw Garibaldi run into a motel room near 700 West North Temple Street.

Because of past involvements with Garibaldi, officers believed he may have access to guns and knew he had multiple, felony weapon-related warrants for his arrest.

For community safety, officers secured the motel and evacuated a portion of the motel property.

The on-duty watch commander requested the assistance of the SLCPD SWAT Team and Crisis Negotiators. These highly trained teams provide patrol officers with additional resources. The crisis negotiation team includes social workers who also responded.

Crisis Negotiators and officers tried for several hours, with no success, to communicate with Garibaldi.

After getting a court-authorized search warrant, members of the SLCPD SWAT Team safely entered the motel room and took Garibaldi into custody.

Garibaldi initially did not comply with SWAT officers, but after several minutes of in-person discussion, he surrendered.

Officers also found a woman inside of the motel room. Officers released the woman after determining her involvement in the situation.

There were no shots fired during this incident and no reported injuries.

Officers booked Garibaldi into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail on one count of Failure to Stop at the Command of a Police Officer, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Bicycle Lamp Required, and multiple felony and misdemeanor warrants.

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.

Two photos taken on scene are being released. Media may use these photos with proper credit to the Salt Lake City Police Department.

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