PUBLIC RELATIONS UNIT

November 8, 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact Information: PolicePRUnit@slcgov.com

Media Request Form: https://police.slc.gov/mediarequest/

SLCPD Officers Arrest Man Accused of Pointing Weapon at Community Members in Liberty Park

SALT LAKE CITY — Officers with the Salt Lake City Police Department’s Liberty Patrol Division have safely arrested a 58-year-old man who is accused of pointing a BB-gun that closely resembled an actual firearm at five people inside Liberty Park.

This investigation started at 2:13 p.m. on Thursday, November 7, 2024, when Salt Lake City police officers received information about a person with a weapon inside Liberty Park, near 600 East 1300 South.

Based on the preliminary investigation, Rafael Manzanilla Perez is accused of approaching several people inside the park and punching a man for no apparent reason. Witnesses told officers Manzanilla Perez then pulled out a firearm, pointing it toward five people.

Community members in the park tackled Manzanilla Perez and briefly held him down.

When community members tackled Manzanilla Perez, they successfully separated him from the firearm and a knife he allegedly had.

Officers arrived on scene as people started leaving the area, including Manzanilla Perez, and safely took him into custody.

During their investigation, officers determined the firearm was a BB-gun that closely resembled an actual firearm.

Throughout the year, the Salt Lake City Police Department’s Liberty Patrol Division’s Bike Squad has conducted enforcement operations inside Liberty Park to address community concerns about drug trafficking and other criminal activity.

Community members have reported seeing fights, drug activity, lewd behavior, and other conduct unbecoming of the quality of life expected in Salt Lake City.

To address these issues, the Salt Lake City Police Department’s Liberty Patrol Division has worked to identify criminal behavior and to hold offenders accountable through strategic enforcement.

This year, the department has arrested 185 people for criminal activity occurring in Liberty Park, up 46% from 2023, and up 198% from 2022.

As of this writing, Manzanilla Perez remains in the Salt Lake County Jail on a no bail hold.

He is currently charged with five counts of aggravated assault and one count of providing false information to 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.

The information contained in this news release is based on a preliminary review of the details available to the Salt Lake City Police Department. As the investigation progresses, information may change.

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