By Tracie Sullivan, For Iron County Today
A Cedar City man is facing multiple felony charges after police say an attempted arrest escalated into a violent confrontation at a gas station.
Michael James Torp, 39, was arrested Dec. 28 and booked into the Iron County Jail on five counts of assault on a peace officer with a dangerous weapon, all second-degree felonies.
According to the affidavit, the arrest stemmed from a traffic stop the night before in which the suspect fled from law enforcement. Officers later determined the truck involved in that incident belonged to Torp, who also had an active statewide warrant out of Washington County related to marijuana possession.
The following day, a Utah Highway Patrol trooper observed a truck matching the description of the vehicle that had fled the previous night pull into the Maverik at Old Highway 91 and state Route 130. The affidavit states the truck backed into a parking space in what the trooper believed was an attempt to conceal the license plate.
When Torp exited the store and got back into the driver’s seat, officers boxed in the vehicle to prevent another attempt to flee. As officers began giving commands, Torp exited the truck and moved to the bed of the pickup, where police say he retrieved two golf clubs.
“He swung the clubs at [a deputy] in a manner that was intended to cause serious bodily harm or death to avoid arrest,” the affidavit states.
Despite multiple taser deployments, officers said the devices had no effect. Torp allegedly charged one deputy, knocking him to the ground and striking him three times in the lower leg and ankle with a golf club.
The affidavit states Torp then charged a responding state trooper and later a Cedar City police officer, swinging the golf club at each as he advanced.
Torp eventually complied with commands after a K-9 unit arrived and was taken into custody. He was transported to Cedar City Hospital for medical clearance before being booked into jail.
During a search of the vehicle, police reported finding a marijuana pipe containing a testable amount of marijuana.
In addition to the felony assault charges, Torp is facing one count of interfering with a peace officer, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia, all misdemeanors.
The affidavit requests higher-than-normal bail, stating Torp had previously fled from law enforcement and “has shown with the assaults that he is willing to assault anyone, including law enforcement, to avoid apprehension.”