PUBLIC RELATIONS UNIT

April 29, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact Information: PolicePRUnit@slcgov.com

SLCPD Officers Safely Arrests Man Who Barricaded Himself Inside Apartment

SALT LAKE CITY — The Salt Lake City Police Department’s SWAT Team, working directly with SLCPD patrol officers, safely arrested a man who barricaded himself inside an apartment unit after threatening to kill a worker at a local convenience store.

This investigation started at 10:15 p.m. on Friday, April 28, 2023, when a community member approached two patrol officers around 100 South and 300 East. The officers happened to be on an unrelated call for service.

Officers learned the suspect, later identified as Jean Ahishakiye, entered a convenience store, grabbed a beer, and underpaid. The store employee asked Ahishakiye to leave. Ahishakiye complied but then returned a short time later with a large knife and threatened to kill the worker.

Ahishakiye left the store and started walking away. Officers attempted to stop Ahishakiye, but he ignored their commands while holding the knife. An officer used a taser, but it did not stop Ahishakiye.

Officers continued ordering Ahishakiye to stop, but he walked into an apartment complex at 326 East 100 South. Additional officers responded to help lock down the area. A witness reported seeing Ahishakiye go inside an apartment unit. Officers tried to contact Ahishakiye, but he didn’t answer.

On-duty members of the SLCPD’s SWAT Team and an on-duty negotiator responded to help patrol officers.

Officers obtained a search warrant and safely entered the apartment. SWAT officers found Ahishakiye sleeping on the ground.

Officers safely took Ahishakiye into custody without further incident. Once medically cleared, officers booked Ahishakiye into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail on charges of aggravated burglary, aggravated assault and failing to stop at the command of a police officer.

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.

No photos from the scene are available.

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