South Jordan neighborhood evacuated for detonation of explosive material found in home

Ryan L. McManigal | Salt Lake County Jail

Incident began when man allegedly fired on police coming to serve warrant

SOUTH JORDAN — Explosive material found in the home of a 42-year-old man taken into custody after allegedly firing on armored police vehicles and officers during a standoff Thursday night is too dangerous to move and must be detonated on site, so 600 area residents have been asked to evacuate until Saturday morning, authorities said Friday.

Access has been closed to an area bordered by 3200 West to Bangerter Highway, and 10200 South to 10400 South, which includes some 160 homes and 34 businesses, South Jordan city spokeswoman Rachel Van Cleave said during a mid-afternoon news conference.

Van Cleave said she could not talk about what explosive was found in the home located near 3400 West and 10400 South. Ryan L. McManigal surrendered to police early Friday morning and was arrested for investigation of more than two dozen charges, including multiple counts of aggravated assault targeting law enforcement, possession of a weapon by a restricted person, felony discharge of a weapon, criminal mischief and violating a protective order.

It is not clear how much damage will result from the detonation that has yet to be scheduled, Van Cleave said.

“The explosives were a surprise to us,” South Jordan Police Lt. Matt Pennington said, adding authorities are trying to determine if others are involved. Pennington said authorities knew the suspect had weapons when they served the warrant on him Thursday evening, but weren’t aware of explosives on the property.

Pennington said authorities had been investigating McManigal since last Saturday. According to the probable cause statement filed by South Jordan police, he had threatened the owner of an area fast-food restaurant in a text message asking how he’d feel if McManigal “entered the business and mowed down customers and staff.”

On Sunday, the statement says, McManigal was allegedly seen with a rifle and several shots were heard. Police found a street light had been shot out in front of his residence.

When officers attempted to serve a search warrant on the home Thursday night and to confiscate any firearms, McManigal refused to leave his home, the affidavit says, and ultimately fired on SWAT vehicles.

“While a West Valley City SWAT armored vehicle containing eight SWAT operators was approaching the front of the residence, it came under heavy fire and was hit with numerous bullets out the front door of the house,” the probable cause statement says. “On the west side of the residence a South Jordan armored SWAT vehicle approached the home it also took several bullets from a rifle.”

Van Cleave said residents contacted door-to-door were cooperative with the request to leave their homes overnight. She said many had been following the news of the incident. She said the city will attempt to reach those residents who may not have been home via a reverse 911 call and social media.

The city, she said, wants to “make sure everybody knows that this evening through tomorrow, everyone should stay away from this area.”

from Deseret News https://ift.tt/2ZXzfCz