MILLCREEK, Utah, Oct. 6, 2021 (Gephardt Daily) — A man allegedly “destroyed” the inside of a 7-Eleven store in Millcreek and threatened employees verbally and with a baseball bat.
A probable cause statement from the 3rd District Court of Salt Lake County said Daniel Duane Etherington, 45, is facing charges of:
- Criminal mischief, a second-degree felony
- Aggravated assault, a third-degree felony
- Threat/use of a dangerous weapon in a fight, a class A misdemeanor
On Sept. 29, a Unified Police officer was patrolling the area of the 7-Eleven at 895 E. 4500 South when he was flagged down by several store employees, “stating a male had destroyed the inside of the store, and fled,” the statement said. Employees told the officer the suspect had got into a black Chevy Blazer and headed west on 4500 South.
The officer then entered the store “and found glass all over the floor, and many of the display cases containing glass were heavily damaged,” the statement said. “I was told by employees the male became upset and damaged the cases with a baseball bat.”
The officer was able to review video from the store.
“The video shows Daniel attempting to pay for items, then getting very upset,” the statement said. “The employee told me Daniel attempted to pay with a damaged $1 bill and she declined to accept this. At this time employees reported Daniel threatened he was going to kill them, and he was asked to leave the store which he did not.”
He then allegedly yelled at employees and was asked to leave several times.
“With Daniel threatening and refusing to leave, an employee grabbed a baseball bat from behind the counter, and gave additional instructions for Daniel to leave, which he did not,” the statement said.
The employee hit the counter with the bat while telling Etherington to leave. The suspect allegedly responded by swinging his fist, striking a glass display, the statement said. The employee then swung the bat but lost a hold on it and it landed at the suspect’s feet.
Etherington then allegedly picked up the bat and threatened employees with it, the statement said. He then swung the bat several times, striking glass display cases, then dropped the bat and walked out, leaving in the Blazer.
The store owner estimated the damages at more than $10,000.
The officer was able to positively identify Etherington as the suspect, using booking and driver’s license photos. The officer also ran the license plate of the Blazer, and found that vehicle had had several encounters with police.
Dispatch put out an attempt-to-locate on the suspect and the vehicle.
“I was contacted by SLCPD dispatch stating they had Daniel in custody on an unrelated matter,” the statement said. “I responded and took Daniel into custody. Daniel made several unsolicited statements regarding the incident, claiming self-defense in the situation.”
He was read his Miranda rights; and allegedly admitted to hitting the displays and calling the employees names, but claimed the hitting the glass and grabbing the bat were self-defense.
The suspect has a history of violent behavior, including convictions for discharge of a firearm in 1995, robbery in 2004, and multiple additional charges of assault on police and simple assault.
Etherington was booked into Salt Lake County Jail, where he is being held without bail.
