SALT LAKE COUNTY, Utah, Sept. 22, 2020 (Gehardt Daily) — A suspect was arrested after allegedly beating a man with nunchucks during a burglary attempt in Salt Lake City.
A probable cause statement from the 3rd District Court of Salt Lake County said Adrian Anthony Melendez, 38, is facing charges of:
- Aggravated burglary, a first-degree felony
- Aggravated assault, a third-degree felony
- Intoxication, a class B misdemeanor
The victim was sleeping in his friend’s apartment when he woke to being struck by the suspect, whom he knows, the statement said.
“The owner of the apartment was smoking outside and was approached by the A/P (accused person) who had blood on his hands and told him to ‘go check on your homie,'” the statement said. “The owner of the apartment entered his apartment and found the victim losing consciousness with bleeding wounds on his head.”
On arrival, the arresting officer said he observed blood droplets throughout the room, soaked into the bed comforter, and on a dresser next to the bed. Nunchucks were allegedly located under the edge of the bed next to droplets of blood, and military “dog tags” with the suspect’s information on them were located on the bed in the room.
“A/P approached officers on scene and openly stated he had struck the victim,” the statement said. “The owner of the apartment knew the suspect because he lives in the same apartment complex. The owner of the apartment stated that the A/P had never
been inside of his apartment and had never been given permission to enter his apartment.”
The owner of the apartment told officers that he has observed the suspect striking a bag with nunchucks in the past; the suspect told officers that the nunchucks taken from the room were his.
“A/P refused to answer questions but stated ‘he’s a pedophile’ referring to the victim,” the statement said. “A/P had red, glossy eyes and the strong and persistent odor of alcohol on his breath.”
The victim is in stable condition and does not remember many details of the assault, the statement said.
Melendez was transported to Salt Lake County Jail with his bail set at $20,010.
