The Salt Lake City Police Department has arrested a 24-year-old man following an incident where he is accused of aggravated assault against two police officers. According to the Salt Lake City Police Department, the accused, Austin Jeffery Giles, tried to flee a traffic stop, allegedly endangering the officers involved.
The ordeal began on the evening of March 28, when detectives from the Salt Lake City Police Department's Violent Criminal Apprehension Team (VCAT) pulled Giles over for driving with a suspended license. During the stop at 1338 West California Avenue, the situation escalated when Giles, despite being asked to step out, attempted to speed away. The detectives assert that in the process, Giles placed them "directly in the path of the moving car, creating a substantial risk of serious bodily injury." The suspect, with a history of evading police, was apprehended on May 23, and slammed with multiple charges.
Giles is now facing two counts of aggravated assault specifically targeting law enforcement officers and additional charges for failing to stop and the driving offense. It is essential to note, however, that charges are merely allegations, and individuals like Giles are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
SLCPD's Violent Criminal Apprehension Team specializes in tracking and arresting individuals involved in violent crimes. This elite unit, as part of SLCPD's Special Operations Division, also engages collaboratively with several other departments to address crime patterns and violent trends across the city. Giles’ case falls under the purview of VCAT due to his alleged violent confrontation and history with law enforcement agencies.
