Man chokes disruptive, singing library patron ‘without a word,’ Utah officials say
A 53-year-old Utah man is accused of choking a fellow library-goer who witnesses said was annoying patrons by yelling, singing and swearing, officials said.
The Taylorsville man faces a charge of aggravated assault resulting in loss of consciousness, according to court documents. He didn’t have an attorney listed as of Dec. 3, a spokesperson for Utah State Courts told McClatchy News in an email.
The alleged incident happened Nov. 25 at a Salt Lake County Public Library branch in South Jordan, which is a 17-mile drive south from Salt Lake City.
Witnesses reported that a man was annoying library patrons and wouldn’t stop or leave when asked by staff, officials said.
Witnesses said the Taylorsville man, “who is normally calm when he visits,” approached the man and “wrapped his arms around (the man’s) throat and used his hand to push (the man’s) chin to the sky,” a court document said. “(The Taylorsville man) then took (the other man) to the ground and (the other man) lost consciousness.”
The Taylorsville man approached the man “without a word,” officials said.
The other man was unconscious for a while, with raspy and labored breathing, the court document said. He woke up and started swearing, and the Taylorsville man made contact with him again, witnesses told police.
Police said surveillance video captured the interaction, and the Taylorsville man admitted he “grabbed the male around the neck and took him to the ground” and “choked him out,” a court document said.
The other man suffered a cut on his face and chin, officials said.
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