SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, June 9, 2025 (Gephardt Daily) -- A 29-year-old man was arrested Sunday night at the Salt Lake City International Airport after he allegedly stole a backpack containing $4,000 in property, then tried to disarm an investigating officer.
Joseph Johnson was arrested for investigation of the alleged crimes of:
- Disarming a police officer, firearm, a first-degree felony
- Theft with a value of $1,500 to $4,999, a third-degree felony
- Interfering with a peace officer, a class B misdemeanor
- Public intoxication, a class C misdemeanor
Johnson took the backpack from the Delta Sky Club, his arrest document says.
"Joseph left the club after he was asked to leave. Joseph did not make any attempt to return the backpack and had to be tracked down by police," says a court document filed by an officer of the Salt Lake City Police Department.
"The stolen backpack contained approximately $4,000 in property. When officers approached Joseph, he was briefly compliant with commands, but as the investigation progressed, he became increasingly non-complaint."
Johnson refused to follow commands to stay seated, put his arms down, and keep his luggage with him, the document says.
"Joseph escalated to pushing his luggage into Officer Thornblad several times. Due to this behavior, Officer Thornblad decided to apply handcuffs, and Joseph briefly pulled away but stopped when told to stop. Joseph's behavior then escalated; he tried to walk away while handcuffed. When officers prevented Joseph from walking away, Joseph began physically resisting and pulling away.
"Joseph violently grabbed Officer Thornblad's handgun. Joseph attempted to pull Officer Thornblad's gun out of the holster by yanking on it violently to the point it was lifting Officer Thornblad's gun belt and side. Officers began using strikes to prevent Officer Thornblad's handgun from being taken. Joseph was taken to the ground, and he continued to resist by pushing and pulling away from officers."
Officers applied a safety wrap restraint and carried Johnson to a patrol car as he "continued resisting in the wrap," the arrest document says.
"Joseph also slammed his own head repeatedly against the Plexiglas during transport to jail." He showed numerous signs of intoxication, according to the Delta Sky Club staff and officers, the statement says.
Johnson was ordered held without bail in the Salt Lake County jail, where online records show he remains as of Monday afternoon.
