SALT LAKE CITY – A security officer was shot in the hand with his own gun after approaching a man officers say broke a window at a Salt Lake City apartment complex, early Monday morning.
At about 2 a.m., Salt Lake City police responded to a shots fired call at Eagle’s Landing apartment complex. When they arrived on scene, they found security guard had been shot in the hand, according to a probable cause statement.
The security guard told police that while he was investigating a broken window at one of the apartments, a man approached him, disarmed him and shot him with his pistol, the probable cause statement indicates. The suspect then fled on foot.
Joseph C. Navares
Another victim reported that the same man, identified later as Joseph Christopher Navares, pointed a gun at him and attempted to steal his car, but was unsuccessful, police say.
Officers contained the area and found Navares hiding on the apartment complex property.
Police made contact with a female who lives in the apartment where the window was broken out.
The female said she and Navares were in a relationship and had been together for seven months, police say. Navares had just moved into the apartment.
The victim told police the two got into an argument in their bedroom when it got physical. Visible, fresh bruises could be seen on her left cheek, according to the probable cause statement.
When the female escaped, Navares went through the apartment damaging her property, which included an smartphone, 42-inch flat screen TV and door frame, the probable cause statement indicates. Total loss in property estimates to $900.
Navares was booked into Salt Lake County Jail on aggravated robbery, aggravated assault resulting in injury, aggravated assault, criminal mischief and unlawful detention.
