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Sheriff's Office Reports Conflicts Over Covid

Summit County Sheriff's Office

Summit County Sheriff deputies responded recently to a couple of altercations prompted by Covid protocols.

Officers also were called about a crowded drinking party, mostly made up of underage juveniles.

The Sheriff’s incident report had details of two different Covid-conflict cases, both occurring at the Canyons Resort near the Cabriolet.

On the morning of the 4th, a 57-year-old Canyons employee said he was working near the top of the lift, when he observed a man with a tape measuring the concrete walk area.

When the employee approached him, the suspect pushed him in the chest with an open hand, saying he was checking on social distancing.

The suspect left, but resort management determined he was the same person who has complained on the company website about distancing.

Sheriff’s Lt. Andrew Wright said a deputy was able to contact the suspect on the phone.      

“On the phone, he told him that the employee approached him and was closer than six feet.   Suspect also advised that he only put his hand up to tell the employee that he was close enough.  He explained  his hand barely touched the employee’s jacket and wouldn’t have even compressed “the puffiness of the coat.”

The suspect was identified as a 57-year-old Park City resident.

In the other case, on Thursday the 10th, a woman identified as a 37-year-old Waco, Texas resident said she and several friends were changing out of their ski gear in a public locker room near the top of the Cabriolet.

A male customer squeezed through the group to leave the locker room and then reportedly yelled ‘Put a G-D mask on!”    The woman said he slapped her arm with gloves he was holding and tried to kick another woman as he passed by.

The man, identified as a 63-year-old Midway resident, denied hitting anyone.    He told officers the women crowded him, were yelling, and had spit coming out of their mouths.    He said he lifted his leg to ward them off.

Both of the altercations have been referred to the County Attorney’s Office for screening.

Finally, on the night of December 5th, deputies responded to a noise complaint about a party at a Summit Park residence.    Deputies estimated there were 30 to 50 attendees, under the legal drinking age of 21, and from residences all along the Wasatch Front.

Officers found that a 46-year-old woman from North Salt Lake had rented the house for her daughter’s birthday.

As individuals left the house, deputies checked driver I.D’s and asked them for breath samples.    Several containers of alcohol were seized and disposed.

We also asked Lt. Wright if officers took any actions to enforce Covid precautions.      

“This doesn’t specifically state that any warnings were issued.   However, our practice through this pandemic has been reminding people, educating people, what the masking requirement is, what the proper social distancing is.   So, yeah, that’s definitely something that we address in a situation like this.  As far as any kind of action taken specific to lack of mask-wearing or social distancing, we approach that from an educational standpoint, and then deal with any criminal violations separately.”

Summit County Sheriff’s Lt. Andrew Wright.   

Known for getting all the facts right, as well as his distinctive sign-off, Rick covered Summit County meetings and issues for 35 years on KPCW. He now heads the Friday Film Review team.
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