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Suspect swings machete, threatens officers during arrest in Salt Lake City

Posted at 2:59 PM, Feb 03, 2016
and last updated 2016-02-03 16:59:08-05

SALT LAKE CITY — Gang detectives serving an arrest warrant on a fugitive in Salt Lake City Tuesday night found themselves facing a machete-wielding man, and after an officer deployed a Taser the suspect was apprehended.

According to Salt Lake City Police Department, police were serving the warrant in the area of 1700 West and 1000 North just before 8 p.m. Tuesday, and when they arrived at the residence the suspect’s mother answered the door.

Detectives observed the suspect fleeing into a bathroom while armed with a machete, and as police approached he began swinging the machete and threatening to kill the officers, according to police.

An officer deployed a Taser and the man was taken into custody.

The suspect is identified as 40-year-old Rick Speer, and he has been booked into jail and is facing charges that include aggravated assault on a police officer and possession of meth in addition to the existing felony warrant.