PROVO, Utah, July 28, 2018 (Gephardt Daily) — Provo police have released body cam footage of a Good Samaritan body slamming a suspect after an altercation with an officer on Pioneer Day.
The suspect, Emiliano Medina, 34, was arrested after the Provo officer responded on reports of a man walking round asking people for water in the Sam’s Club parking lot.
In the body cam footage, the officer initially comes into contact with Medina at 27 seconds in, and says: “How you doing man? Hey, somebody called and said they were worried about you, said you were asking for water or something. Are you doing OK?”
The suspect then approaches the officer and reaches for his gun, to which the officer responds: “Hey don’t touch that, dude.”
Medina allegedly then punches the officer; the officer says: “Get on the ground, get on the ground,” then Medina runs across the parking lot.
A man dressed in a white shirt and shorts then runs after the suspect and body slams him to the ground while two other men close in and assist him. The officer then says: “Thanks guys,” before the video ends.
Along with the body cam footage, Provo Police Department posted the following statement on Facebook: “Here is the body worn camera footage of Officer Williams attempting to make an arrest of a person who tried to take his gun on July 24. After the man resisted arrest, punched Officer Williams and fled, an unnamed citizen tackled the suspect so Officer Williams could make the arrest.
“Chief Ferguson wants to thank that person for coming to the aid of an officer in need. We take pride in serving and protecting in Provo so we are grateful to the unknown person who returned the favor and helped us safely take a dangerous person into custody.”
Medina is being held in Utah County Jail and faces charges including a felony suspicion of disarming a police officer, and misdemeanors for assaulting a police officer, two counts of possession or use of a controlled substance, failing to stop at command of law enforcement and interfering with an arresting officer.
Arrest reports from Utah County Jail show that Medina has a prior criminal history for drug-related and other charges.
