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Police: Man breaks into officer’s home, makes death threats, assaults police

Posted at 10:49 AM, Apr 21, 2016
and last updated 2016-04-21 14:28:26-04

HURRICANE, Utah – Breaking into someone’s home is never a good idea. Breaking into an off-duty police officer’s home while they are home is an even worse idea.

Yet that is what landed 43-year-old Nathan Gardiner behind bars in Purgatory, Utah.

Hurricane Police said they were called to a house near 400 N. and 2500 W. Wednesday afternoon where a suspect allegedly broke into the home.

The officer who lives there just happened to be home sleeping at the time.

Authorities said the noise woke the officer, she grabbed her gun and confronted the suspect, Gardiner, in the kitchen.

When other officers arrived to help they saw Gardiner trying to get away and stopped him.

Officers said Gardiner didn’t follow their commands but they were able to arrest him.

Authorities said Gardiner had some kind of medical emergency on the way to the jail, started assaulting the officers and making death threats.

Gardiner went to the hospital to be checked and then was booked into the Purgatory jail.

Officers said they believe alcohol and/or drugs were involved.

When police searched Gardiner’s home they found meth, drug paraphernalia, a gun and ammunition.

Gardiner is now facing a number of charges:

  • Burglary-Dwelling
  • Possession of Firearm by a Restricted Person
  • 3 Counts of Assault by a Prisoner
  • 2 Counts of Failure to Stop at a Police Officers Command
  • Drug Possession
  • Possession of Paraphernalia
  • Criminal Mischief
  • Interfering with an Arrest
  • 2 Counts of Threats of Violence
  • DUI
  • Intoxication
  • Disorderly Conduct
  • Warrant