A tense student protest near 3505 South 8400 West in West Valley City ended with a 34-year-old Magna man facing criminal charges after witnesses told police he threatened the group and drove his truck in a way that forced people to jump out of its path.
Charges and court date
Cheyenne Jacob Webb, 34, is charged with aggravated assault, a third-degree felony, along with disorderly conduct, and is set for an initial court appearance on Tuesday, Feb. 17, according to FOX13. Prosecutors say the case traces back to an altercation at an anti-ICE protest where callers reported that there might be a gun at the scene.
What witnesses and video show
Several juvenile protesters told officers that Webb "made them believe he had a gun and was going to shoot them," according to a police booking affidavit cited by KSL. Some of the teens reported that during the confrontation, he reached into his truck, which only heightened their fear.
Investigators later reviewed video from multiple bystanders and from a member of the press whose body-worn camera reportedly captured Webb accelerating his vehicle at a high rate of speed, causing at least one person to move quickly to avoid being hit.
Scene and protest context
The confrontation unfolded near 3505 South and 8400 West during student walkouts across the Salt Lake Valley that were held to protest immigration enforcement, FOX13 reported. Unified Police officers responded after multiple calls about an altercation, located a man who matched the descriptions given by witnesses, and reviewed available video as they made the arrest.
Legal stakes
Under Utah law, aggravated assault is generally treated as a third-degree felony that can bring up to five years in prison and as much as $5,000 in fines, with penalties that can be increased when a dangerous weapon is involved. As the case proceeds in the 3rd District Court, prosecutors are expected to evaluate the witness accounts and video evidence to decide how to move forward.
