Man arrested for assault at Salt Lake City airport tried to grab a gun

SALT LAKE CITY — A man arrested on assault charges at Salt Lake City International Airport on Sunday tried to wrestle a police officer’s gun and managed to grab a Taser while officers tried to subdue him, police said.

Two officers from the Salt Lake City Police Department arrested 28-year-old Scott Hollis after he was observed hitting and choking two seemingly random people in the airport pickup area at 5:07 p.m.

“As officers attempted to arrest Hollis, Hollis attempted to grab another officer’s weapon. During the struggle, Hollis grabbed the other officer’s TASER and took it from him,” SLCPD said. Officers recovered the device, which was not activated, SLCPD said.

“With the assistance of responding officers and community members, officers took Hollis into custody,” police said.

The man allegedly hit a 20-year-old man and choked a 17-year-old, prompting police to intervene. The officers who arrested Hollis were at the airport in another incident, saw the attack and intervened. According to police, Hollis did not listen to officers’ instructions. One officer suffered a minor injury.

The attacks and arrest did not impact airport operations. Police are currently investigating to determine a motive for the attacks and whether Hollis was intoxicated.

Officers took Hollis to the Salt Lake County Metro Jail on suspicion of two counts of disarming a police officer, aggravated assault, battery and obstructing an arresting officer.

“The man appeared to be under the influence of some type of intoxicant,” police said Sunday, adding that the man may have used public transportation to the airport and had no known reason for being there.

“Charges are merely allegations and everyone arrested is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt,” police said.