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Police questioning man after woman threatened outside Salt Lake City Jewish Community Center

Posted at 1:43 PM, Dec 03, 2017
and last updated 2017-12-03 23:28:31-05

SALT LAKE CITY – Police said a University of Utah update stating a suspect was in custody for in an incident outside the Jewish Community Center Sunday is not accurate.

Early Sunday morning, police were called to the JCC after a man allegedly pointed a gun through his car window at a woman who was getting out of her own car in the front parking lot. He then drove off in his white Mercedes wagon.

According to an update posted by the University of Utah at 2:30 p.m., the suspect and vehicle were located in Murray and the man is in custody.

“There is no longer any threat to campus associated with this incident,” the update states.

Lt. Mark Buhman with Salt Lake City Police said this is not accurate, and he is not sure where the University is getting their information. He clarified that UTA police received a call around 9:45 a.m. that a car matching the suspect description was located at a Murray TRAX station.

In that area they located a man believed to be associated with that vehicle.

Buhman said several hours later, UTA put it together that this could be the suspect SLCPD was looking for, at which point UTA called them.

"We haven't had an opportunity to speak with this male, so we're not sure if he's actually the suspect that was in the vehicle at the time this crime occurred," Buhman said.

He added there is a possibility the suspect could still be out there, but police do not think there is any real threat to anyone, especially at the JCC.

"There was never anything that happened inside the JCC or any real connection to our activities," added the center's executive director Andrea Alcabes. "People are safe here and we want people to be comfortable and feel welcome and safe."

The JCC is located on North Medical Drive across from University Medical Center. Salt Lake City Police say the suspect was last seen at 3300 South and I-15 prior to being located later in the Murray area.

Police describe the suspect as 30 to 35-years-old with curly brown hair and wearing a brown jacket.

If you see an individual matching this description who could be involved, or if you have any information, you are advised to call Salt Lake City police.

Police are also advising people to “be aware of their surroundings and to immediately report any suspicious persons or activities on campus.”