WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah, Oct. 10, 2017 (Gephardt Daily) — A man arrested Monday, after police say he stabbed a female convenience store clerk, was free only because of a clerical error at the Salt Lake County Jail.
Edwin Ogando, 33, should have been incarcerated until Oct. 21, according to information released by the Salt Lake County Jail on Tuesday. Instead, he was released on Sept. 9 after data was entered incorrectly into his file.
According to the information released:
• Ogando was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on May 21, 2017.
• On Sept. 8, Ogando was sentenced in district court on misdemeanor charges. On the same day, sentencing data was entered incorrectly, which triggered Ogando’s release 42 days prior to his scheduled release.
• Ogando was released from jail on Sept. 9.
“Salt Lake County Jail staff have identified how this error occurred, and have taken immediate steps to improve the process that resulted in this early release,” said a statement released by Sgt. Kevin Hunter, spokesman for the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
“Although errors like this at the Salt Lake County Jail are uncommon, administrators continue to monitor and improve systems through training and updates. The Salt Lake County Jail is committed to the safety of our community, and takes responsibility for the human error that led to this release.”
According to a probable cause statement on the Monday attack, an officer was called to the Maverik at 3112 S. Redwood Road, West Valley City, at about 4:46 a.m. regarding a man who was yelling and hitting garbage cans.
“Upon arrival at the location I observed an adult female outside of the gas station with multiple knife wounds to her person,” said WVCPD Officer Curdie, who filed the report.
Curdie entered the Maverik and saw, on a video monitor, a man male holding the office door shut. Curdie called for backup, and when it arrived, he called to the suspect, who opened the door a crack and threw out a knife, the probable cause statement says.
The suspect refused to come out despite multiple requests, and a K-9 and pepper spray were used to make him comply. Outside the office, the suspect resisted handcuffing, and struck, spit on and bit multiple officers until he could be subdued.
According to reports on Monday, the suspect jumped over the counter to assault the female clerk, whom he stabbed in the neck among other places. Two customers pulled the suspect off the clerk, who was transported to a local hospital in stable condition.
Ogando was treated for injuries he sustained during the arrest, and then booked into jail. He currently faces charges of:
• Aggravated assault resulting in serious injury
• Driving after denied licence
• Violation of patrol or probation,
• Criminal mischief
• Assault by a prisoner
• Disorderly conduct, and
• Interference with arresting officers.
Gephardt Daily will have more on this developing story as information becomes available.
