Following standoff, SWAT officers arrest vehicle theft suspect in Cedar City

Written by Jeff Richards
June 8, 2022

CEDAR CITY — A suspect wanted for questioning in connection with a stolen vehicle was arrested late Tuesday night in Cedar City following a nearly two-hour standoff.

Iron Metro SWAT team members, along with officers from other agencies, respond to an incident that resulted in a stolen vehicle suspect’s arrest, Cedar City, Utah, June 7, 2022 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News

The incident, which prompted a full-scale, multi-agency response, started earlier in the evening in an apartment complex near 2000 W. 200 North, just west of Aime Avenue and College Way. 

Cedar City Police had received information that a vehicle in the parking lot had been stolen out of California and that the incident had been listed as an armed robbery, Sgt. Justin Ludlow told Cedar City News at the scene.

During the time police had the vehicle under surveillance, a man was seen getting out of the car and running into a nearby apartment, Ludlow said.

“We surrounded the house and tried to call him out; he wouldn’t respond,” Ludlow said, adding that Iron County Metro SWAT team was then called in.

Ludlow said local officers contacted California authorities regarding the weapon that had allegedly been used in the previous robbery.

“We called them to find out what kind of weapon he had,” he said. “It actually came out that it was with a knife.”

Ultimately, SWAT officers found the man hiding in the attic of the residence. He was placed in handcuffs and taken into custody without further incident shortly after 10 p.m.

Iron Metro SWAT team members, along with officers from other agencies, respond to an incident that resulted in a stolen vehicle suspect’s arrest, Cedar City, Utah, June 7, 2022 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News

A couple hours later, the suspect, identified as Joe Marquez, 26, was booked into Iron County Jail on suspicion of possession of a stolen vehicle/theft exceeding $5,000, a second-degree felony.

No injuries were reported.

Ludlow also said it ended up not being necessary to evacuate nearby apartments.

“We knew that he was just in that one area, so everyone else was able to remain where they were,” he said. “It was a single-level home, where all these (others) are actually double-level. So we knew he couldn’t go beyond the one (building).”

This report is based on statements from law enforcement officials and may not contain the full scope of findings. Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jeff Richards, a native of Salt Lake City with family roots in Panguitch, lived in Moab for 20 years before joining St. George News in 2017. Jeff is a longtime journalist and secondary school teacher. He and his wife Penny are the parents of five daughters. They also have three young grandsons. Jeff and his family enjoy swimming, camping, sightseeing, reading, and taking pictures.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @stgnews@moabjeff@stgnewssports

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