SANDY, Utah, Aug. 18, 2024 (Gephardt Daily) — A Sandy City Police officer driving through the department’s parking lot made an arrest after allegedly observing a man vandalizing a patrol vehicle early Sunday morning.
At about 12:06 a.m., the officer noticed a man, later identified as Luke James Bullard, 27, leaning over a police patrol vehicle,” Bullard’s affidavit says.
“I observed what appeared to be fresh writing etched on the front hood of the police vehicle. The vehicle was a black-and-white police vehicle which was clearly marked with the words Sandy Police.
“I stopped to ask what he was doing. Luke stated we were gaslighting him and that if we took him to the hospital he would snap their necks.”
The officer demanded Bullard drop a large rock from his right hand.
“Luke refused to drop the rock and moved to the passenger side of the police vehicle and began to strike the window and the passenger side mirror. I observed pieces of the mirror breaking off the vehicle. I continued to give Luke orders to drop the rock. Luke refused to comply and walked toward another police vehicle parked in the same parking lot.”
The second patrol car had what appeared to be writing on the hood, arrest documents say.
“Luke walked around the vehicle and began to hit the front windshield of the vehicle. I observed as the windshield was shattering with each strike.
“I continued to yell commands at Luke to stop striking the vehicle and to drop the rock. Other officers arrived and Luke complied with orders, Luke was placed in custody. Both vehicles sustained broken windows, mirrors … and a large triangle was scratched onto the paint of both front hoods. There was other extensive damage on both vehicles from Luke.”
Post-Miranda, Bullard reportedly said he was willing to be interviewed.
“Luke admitted to damaging both vehicles and admitted to knowing that both were police vehicles belonging to Sandy Police. Luke has (an) extensive history of threats against law enforcement, being armed and violent, in addition to Felony discharge of a weapon in a residence.
“On Aug. 11, 2024, Luke arrived at the Sandy Police Dept wanting to kill cops. During that incident Luke stated that he wanted to cut off the police officers’ legs and eat their bone marrow. Luke is diagnosed as schizophrenic and is a danger to the public. Luke mentioned he wants his prior domestic violence to be dropped so he could again buy a gun and carry one.”
Bullard was arrested for investigation of two counts of criminal mischief causing a loss greater than or equal to $5,000, both second-degree felonies, and failure to stop at command of a police officer, a class A misdemeanor. As in all cases, charges will be determined by the County District Attorney’s Office.
Bullard was ordered held without bail.
