Salt Lake City, UT — A 29-year-old man is in custody after allegedly stealing a backpack from another passenger at Salt Lake City International Airport and then attempting to disarm a police officer during his arrest.
Joseph Johnson was arrested on Sunday after officers were called to the Delta Sky Club on reports of a stolen bag. According to court documents, Johnson had taken a backpack valued at approximately $4,000 before being asked to leave the club.
When police approached Johnson, he initially complied with commands but soon became agitated. Officers say he pushed his luggage into them multiple times and attempted to walk away despite being in handcuffs.
During the struggle to detain him, Johnson allegedly tried to grab an officer’s weapon, pulling at it with enough force to lift the officer’s duty belt, according to police reports.
Authorities also claim that during his transport, Johnson repeatedly slammed his head into a plexiglass partition inside the police vehicle.
Johnson now faces multiple charges, including theft, disarming a police officer, public intoxication, and interfering with a peace officer.
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