PUBLIC RELATIONS UNIT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact Information: PolicePRUnit@slcgov.com

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

SLCPD Officers Arrest 47-Year-Old Man Accused of Causing Extensive Property Damage in Downtown

SALT LAKE CITY — Officers with the Salt Lake City Police Department (SLCPD) safely arrested a 47-year-old man who is accused of intentionally, but randomly, causing extensive property damage in downtown.

This investigation started at 9:59 p.m. on Wednesday, November 13, 2024, when SLC911 received information about a man shattering windows at the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office, located at 35 East 500 South.

Officers arrived and found Damien McNear and safely took him into custody.

Based on the preliminary investigation, McNear, while intoxicated, began damaging property at various locations in downtown, likely using a rock.

McNear is accused of scratching 10 new cars that the Mercedez-Benz dealership, shattering two windows at the district attorney’s office, and chipping one window at the Salt Lake County Health Department.

Currently, there is no reason to believe these incidents are targeted.

The damage at the district attorney’s office is estimated to be well over $5,000.

The damage estimates for the 10 vehicles at the Mercedez-Benz dealership and the window at the health department are still being assessed.

The Mercedez-Benz dealership is located at 575 South State Street.

The health department is located at 610 South 200 East.

Officers booked McNear into the Salt Lake County Jail on three counts of felony property damage.

Two photos from the district attorney’s office are being released.

Media may use these photos with credit to the Salt Lake City Police Department.

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.

Photo: A 47-year-old man is accused of intentionally, but randomly, shattering two windows at the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office (SLCPD photo – November 13, 2024).

Photo: A 47-year-old man is accused of intentionally, but randomly, shattering two windows at the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office (SLCPD photo – November 13, 2024).

###