By Tracie Sullivan, For Iron County Today
An argument that escalated into threats with weapons on New Year’s Eve in Enoch led to the arrest of a man who also allowed aggressive dogs to roam the street, police said.
Joseph Edward Ellis, 55, was arrested December 31 after officers responded to a report of two men fighting at 4241 N. Triple Deuce Circle.
According to the probable cause statement filed in 5th District Court, police arrived on scene at approximately 11:20 p.m., where they found Ellis and another man outside the residence. There were also two Pitbulls officers said were behaving aggressively.
“I gave the owner, Joseph Ellis, orders to put his dogs away several times,” the deputy stated in the affidavit. “The dogs approached me several times.”
One of the dogs allegedly came within two feet of the officer, prompting him to deploy his Taser to deter the animal. After this, Ellis complied and restrained the dogs.
Police interviewed three individuals at the scene to piece together the events leading up to an altercation. The victim alleged that Ellis brandished both a machete and a tire iron during the argument.
Ellis admitted to pulling the weapons but claimed it was in self-defense. A third-party witness, however, described Ellis as being “aggressive all night” and stated that the victim only pulled a knife after Ellis first wielded an “ice pick.”
“All parties stated that an argument had taken place, the victim was told to leave, and Joseph continued to be aggressive,” the affidavit stated.
Ellis was charged with aggravated assault, a third-degree felony, for allegedly pulling the weapons during the dispute. He also faces a class B misdemeanor charge for allowing vicious dogs at large, as the dogs were reportedly loose in the street when officers arrived.
Additionally, Ellis was charged with disorderly conduct, an infraction, for disturbing the peace of the neighborhood during the fight.
Ellis was booked into the Iron County Jail shortly after midnight on January 1. In the affidavit, the responding officer emphasized Ellis’ aggressive behavior and the dangers posed by both the unleashed dogs and the weapons requesting the suspect be held without bail.
1 comment
Chastity Spivey
This is bull shit Joseph was not the aggressor.
He had stayed calm the entire time leading to Tommy Sossman demanding a ride from Joe many times Sossman stepped into Ellis face yelled and very hostile He had been a problem for us both for little over a week physically attacking me .
He was asked to leave he was told by Ellis he was not driving due to his license suspension and could not drive .sossman became more hostile being a know gang member and violent past and in and out of prison Ellis felt threatened in his home and only wanted him to leave for the night . The dogs where already outside but in the side yard .Ellis kept yelling leave and shut the gate I’m locking up and letting the dogs out like we had done most nights depending on weather .. I tried closing the gate many times and Sossman pulled the gate out of my hands not letting me close our gate .
The arguing upset my dogs and they started fighting them selves and had never been aggressive toward anyone .
I believe the events of the night and hostile environment at the time set the dogs off I contained the dogs and put them in the house not Ellis .officers say cameras show and they hear Ellis . If that’s the truth then they seen Sossman not letting me close the gate they heard Ellis telling him to leave and the threats from Sossman toward Ellis .
You have a right to protect your home and family and Mr Ellis was only trying to do just that.
Sossman stated he would cut himself to make it seam he was the victim .Sossman has a hostile violent past and he should have been charged .
Mr Ellis has been profiled and harassed for some years starting with Officer Humphrey.
We have reached out to many for help with some many situations and questions to lead us in the right direction and with nothing but judgement and denial at all cost .
A lot has happened and a lot of laws have been broken.
But you all seem to think it’s just us doing wrong by all in iron county .
Not true and the truth will be told and all involved think we have no foot to stand on nor any proof or evidence to support our side of all the crap that’s happened.
Could we have handled things differently yes of course and I personally apologize to all effected by our actions .
But you all only have one side going by the he said she said crap and not once checking or asking our side or willing to know the hole story just judging people by what they hear by others or have seen them selves and judging from that point forward and never hear the calls for help or the whys of certain situations just judging and looking the other way .
Mr Ellis is a very giving forgiving and understanding man and no matter what anyone in this town thinks of him during a very trying time in his life no matter how against him any of you have been he would never turn his back on any of you nor judge you for feeling or judging him as you do for being too ignorant to really find out the situation .
Since our lives have been put in the paper I’m sure this isn’t going to be the last time you hear from me Im no longer staying silent and I apologize now for all involved and at how pissed off you all will be when tables turn and your names are added to the list of corrupt lawyers and law enforcement agencies among many others .
So I wish you all the best hope you have an amazing day no hard feelings I get you all feel you have a right to be who you are and to your opinions.
I get it it because you really don’t know the real truth .NOT YOUR FAULT NOT MADD AT YA.
RESPECTFULLY YOURS
CHASTITY SPIVEY.