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SLCPD Arrest Man for Being in Possession of Incendiary Device in Ballpark Neighborhood

SALT LAKE CITY — Officers with the Salt Lake City Police Department’s Liberty Patrol Division safely arrested a 51-year-old man after he pulled a knife on officers and made statements about having an explosive device in his truck.

This investigation started just before 5 p.m. on Saturday, February 10, 2024, when a Salt Lake City Police officer conducted a traffic stop near 824 South State Street.

The officer initiated the traffic stop because he saw the suspect driving a pickup with an expired registration. The truck’s color also did not match the color listed on the registration.

During the traffic stop, the officer identified the suspect as Arthur Lloyd Palmer and learned Palmer is a non-compliant sex offender.

When the officer asked Palmer to exit his truck, Palmer pulled out a knife in an immediate show of force against the officer.

SLCPD officers safely took Palmer into custody. Palmer resisted arrested.

During an interview with officers Palmer claimed to have explosives inside the pickup.

Officers observed several jars with liquids and other objects that concerned them enough that they pulled back from the pickup, secured the area, and initiated a response from the Hazardous Devices Unit (HDU).

Because of Palmer’s statements about the materials and objects inside his pickup, his criminal record, and him pulling a knife on officers, the on-scene incident commander closed State Street in both directions from 800-900 South.

The closure resulted in the evacuation of two businesses.

HDU, with the assistance from Salt Lake City Fire, Gold Cross, and the Unified Fire Authority, safety removed all related items of evidence.

The items will be safely stored for evidentiary needs and disposal.

Once cleared, officers impounded the truck.

Just before 9 p.m. on Saturday, February 10, 2024, officers re-opened State Street in both directions.

Officers booked Palmer into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail on two counts of recklessly being in possession of an incendiary device, one count of aggravated assault, one count of interfering with an arresting officer, one count of being in possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person, one count of failing to register a vehicle, 12 counts of failure to register as a sex offender, and two counts of failing to maintain a current ID as a sex offender.

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.

The Hazardous Devices Unit (HDU) is a part of the Salt Lake City Police Department’s Special Operations Division. HDU team members go through extensive training to become highly specialized and certified in the detection and response to hazardous material and explosive devices. HDU is responsible for assessment and render safe operations, as well as the removal of hazardous devices and explosive materials from the community. HDU provides training and operational support to other public safety entities, businesses and directly to our community members. In addition to working closely with other public safety groups throughout Salt Lake City, the HDU is an active member of both the Utah Bomb Squad Task Force and the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. HDU maintains operational readiness to respond throughout the state of Utah, and the country when needed.

Several photos from the scene are being released. Media may use these photos with credit to the Salt Lake City Police Department.

Photo: A Salt Lake City Police officer blocks State Street at 800 South during an investigation (SLCPD photo February 10, 2024).

Photo: Salt Lake City Police detectives safely remove suspicious jars containing liquid found in a pickup near 800 South State Street during an investigation (SLCPD photo February 10, 2024).

Photo: A Salt Lake City Police acting sergeant makes a phone call while blocking State Street at 800 South during an investigation (SLCPD photo February 10, 2024).

Photo: Salt Lake City Police detectives safely remove suspicious jars containing liquid found in a pickup near 800 South State Street during an investigation (SLCPD photo February 10, 2024).

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