SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, April 1, 2019 (Gephardt Daily) — A man armed with a hammer and an iron was arrested late Sunday night after allegedly holding three people hostage in a Salt Lake City apartment.
A probable cause statement from the 3rd District Court of Salt Lake County said Fred Alexander Lopez, 43, is facing three charges of first-degree felony aggravated kidnapping, one charge of second-degree felony burglary of a dwelling, one charge of third-degree felony aggravated assault and one charge of class B misdemeanor use or possession of drug paraphernalia.
The incident occurred just before midnight in the area of 310 E. Harrison Ave (1400 South).
Dispatch received a call indicating there was a woman being held hostage.
Upon arrival, officers located the suspect in the front room of the residence. The man opened the door for officers and was taken in to custody without incident.
“I made contact with the A/P (accused person) and he exercised his rights per Miranda,” the statement said. “I interviewed three victims within the apartment, all three told consistent stories that the A/P was holding a hammer and an iron and threatened to kill all three if they left the apartment.”
The suspect was told to leave the apartment by one of the victims. He refused and directly threatened her with bodily injury while holding the hammer.
All three witnesses stated they feared for their safety if they tried to leave the apartment, the probable cause statement said.
While searching the suspect incident to arrest, a syringe was found in his shirt pocket. An officer witnessed the suspect take another syringe out of his pocket and place it on the couch prior to opening the door. The hammer and iron were booked into evidence.
It’s not clear at this time whether there was any relationship between the suspect and the victims.
Lopez is being held in Salt Lake County Jail with his bail set at $100,000.
Ex-con, gang member? Here legally or illegally?