A 66-year-old man has been arrested by the Salt Lake City Police Department (SLCPD) for vandalizing ticket vending machines at two separate TRAX light rail stations in less than a day, racking up thousands in damages. The suspect, identified as Wilbert Fike, was first caught early in the morning at the TRAX station on 55 South Main Street, where he was seen assaulting the machine's screen with a rock. According to SLCPD, the damage to four machines at this station was estimated to be around $2,000.
Despite being taken into custody and booked on charges of criminal mischief, Fike was back on the street and allegedly at it again in less than 24 hours. He found himself at a different TRAX station, located at 450 South Main Street, reportedly in the process of vandalizing another ticket machine. This subsequent act of destruction was valued at more than $5,000, prompting officers to arrest Fike for a second time on additional charges, including interference with critical infrastructure. It's reported that, while en route to jail, Fike made statements regarding his upcoming court appearance.
The repeated nature of these incidents, and their substantial impact on public transit operations, led authorities to request that Fike be held without bail. The SLCPD's release emphasized that charges are merely allegations and suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The case has since been referred to the Utah Transit Authority Police Department for further investigation.
