Blotter Fodder 

Tough Crowd

06/19/06, 12:35, Assault on Police Officer/Resisting/Possession Controlled Substance, 350 W. 400 South

“The officer observed a possible drug transaction occur in Pioneer Park. The officer approached [the 19-year-old male suspect], and attempted to speak to him about the suspicious activity. When the officer instructed the [suspect] to stop, the [suspect] turned and began to fight with the officer. During the fight, approximately 30 bystanders began to surround the officer. The officer injured his left hand during the arrest. The [suspect] was found to be in possession of cocaine. The [suspect] was booed on the possession, Resisting and Assault on a Police Officer.nn

Of course, the officer meant that the suspect was “booked” on suspicion of possession, resisting and assault on an officer. But imagine 30 ruffians closing in on a police officer in the park, only to hiss and jeer at the arrestee when the cocaine turns up, crestfallen to see the blow go to waste.

First Impressions

06/23/06, 21:04, Shoplift/Robbery, 1164 E. Brickyard/Mervyn’s

“The Loss Protection employee observed the suspect take merchandise from the Mervyn’s store without paying. When the employee confronted the suspect, the suspect assaulted him and then fled on foot eastbound. The suspect had friends in the store who were unaware of his activity and were actually filling out applications. A responding officer was able to obtain ID information from those friends and develop pictures and addresses for the suspect. Several addresses were checked without locating the suspect.nn

How rich would it be if the prospective employees listed their five-fingered friend as a reference?

Lucky Leon

06/26/06, 18:58, Barricaded Subject/Warrants Arrest, near 700 N. 900 West

“Detectives received information that [36-year-old fugitive] David Vincente Clayden … was at the listed address. They were also given information that he … had a no bail warrant, and had been involved in a hostage situation in Midvale. [Clayden] was also listed in 4th place on Utah Department of Corrections Most Wanted. When officers arrived, they were given information that [Clayden] was in the apartment. [Clayden] refused to answer the door. SWAT was called out and a detective was able to make phone contact with [Clayden]. [Clayden] decided it was in his best interest to surrender and was taken into custody without incident.nn

At any given time, the Utah Department of Corrections lists 15 parole absconders'in chronological order from the most recent to beat feet'on its Most Wanted Website. Along with their mug shots, the site describes offenders’ scars and tattoos for positive identification. Those marks also offer insights into the criminals’ lives and minds.

Fittingly, No. 2 on the list, Duane Dean Savage, a 63-year-old convicted child rapist, sports a “Born to Lose” tattoo on his left forearm. Hard-living John Randall, 48, did time for arson, attempted aggravated assault, criminal mischief, kidnapping and joyriding. Randall’s identifying marks include a right leg shorter than the left, an 8-inch abdomen scar and bullet holes to both sides of the groin. Baby-faced Juan Miguel Guzman, 23, convicted of forcible sexual abuse, keeps it real with the Virgin Mary tattooed across his back.

Beyond the wayward parolees, Corrections holds out hope of capturing two outstanding escapees. One of them, convicted robber Robert Leon Jackson, who’d be 72 now, hasn’t been heard from since escaping in 1981. Be on the lookout for a square-jawed geezer with “Lucky” tattooed on his right forearm.