FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 13, 2025

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SLCPD Patrol Officers Arrest Six People During Strategic Jordan River Trail Enforcement Operation

SALT LAKE CITY — As part of an ongoing effort to address illegal activity occurring on the Jordan River Trail, officers with the Salt Lake City Police Department’s (SLCPD) Pioneer Patrol Division have safely arrested six people.

Officers also arrested 10 people last week as part of a separate operation conducted by the SLCPD.

Wednesday’s joint operation included patrol officers from both the afternoon and graveyard shifts, as well as a certified SLCPD drone operator.

Prior to the enforcement occurring, the SLCPD drone operator conducted routine flights over the target area. The operator saw approximately 25 people breaking park curfew near a pedestrian bridge along the Jordan River Trail.

The drone operator also saw someone with an open fire along the river’s bank, further raising public safety concerns.

Patrol officers set up at 500 North and 700 North along the Jordan River Trail to contain the area once the enforcement operation began.

Officers began a coordinated effort to contact the group by walking in. As they did so, a man ran from officers. Officers caught the man after a short chase.

Separately, another woman ran and jumped multiple fences into a community member’s backyard. The drone operator followed the woman and directed officers to her where they safely arrested her.

Officers arrested six people including 28-year-old Westley Cottam, 36-year-old Bo Long, 38-year-old James Gardner, 20-year-old Andrea Somma, 40-year-old Eric Bell, and 29-year-old Damion Hosteen.

Officers booked all six into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail.

This effort is part of Mayor Erin Mendenhall’s Public Safety Plan and is in response to recent concerns from community members about crime occurring along the Jordan River Trail.

During the week of February 3 through February 9, 2025, the SLCPD began enhanced patrols at Backman Elementary School, focusing on the Jordan River Trial and surrounding neighborhoods before and after school hours.

This operation will continue through the end of this week and will be reassessed by the SLCPD’s Community Impact Division (CID) commander. Routine patrols are still scheduled for the area after this week.

The goal of Operation Safe Passage is to help ensure student safety, address illegal activity, and to assess the current and future needs of the community.

Officers arrested 10 people during Operation Safe Passage between February 3 and February 9, 2025.

In addition, SLCPD officers engaged in community-oriented policing strategies and played soccer and basketball with Backman Elementary students. Officers also handed out informational packets to parents during pickup and drop off.

The SLCPD remains committed to helping ensure the Jordan River Trial and other areas throughout the city are safe for students, staff, and residents.

A video clip is being released. Media may use this clip with credit to the Salt Lake City Police Department.

·         Video – Operation Safe Passage (Feb 3 – Feb 9, 2025)

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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