SALT LAKE CITY-This weekend, Salt Lake City police arrested a man who they say encouraged people to bring guns to the Salt Lake City-County Building and threatened Salt Lake City mayor Erin Mendenhall.
58-year-old Marlin Richard Baer of Salt Lake City was booked into the Salt Lake County jail for investigation of making a terroristic threat and electronic communication harassment.
Saturday, roughly 1,000 protesters gathered on the lawn at Washington Square, expressing their discontent concerning with how the U.S. government is handling the spread of COVID-19 and calling for Utah businesses to be allowed to reopen.
Friday, Baer called Mendenhall’s office concerning the upcoming rally and threatened her, per a police affidavit.
The affidavit states that Baer threatened Mendenhall and said that if things don’t change, a civil war was coming. On Facebook, Baer said that protesters should “bring their guns.”
Police stated they were expecting “an emotionally charged rally” and expressed concerns that Baer would commit violence should the restrictions not be rescinded.
Officers located Baer Friday and arrested him.
