SLC Main Street Evacuated After Major Bomb Scare
(KUTV) SALT LAKE CITY - Police have evacuated one of the largest buildings in downtown Salt Lake City, the Wells Fargo building, as well as other offices on Main Street after a man walked into the first floor bank claiming to have an explosive device.
The Wells Fargo building, which also houses KUTV’s studio and all buildings from 200 south to 350 south were emptied while police dealt with a man in the bank claiming to have a bomb.
The Wells Fargo building is located at 299 south Main, it has 26 floors of offices.
Eyewitnesses say the man entered the bank around 2:35 p.m. and began banging on desks, breaking glass and confronting customers of the bank. Police say the man was making demands.
Eyewitness Kelly Murdock says he saw a ‘disturbed man’ who had a ‘meltdown’ in the Wells Fargo bank manager’s office.
Murdock says he saw the man kicking a window and attempting to use the telephone.
Witnesses said the man claimed to have an explosive inside the bank. Other reports, unconfirmed at this time, said that the man had a gun.
Police surrounded the building and the immediate area to contain the suspect. Officers used bullhorns to tell people to get out of the buildings.
Police took the camouflage wearing suspect into custody around 3 p.m. but the buildings in the area remained evacuated because officers say the man left a ‘device’ in the bank. That object is now being investigated by the bomb squad.
Police say the man left the bank peacefully and was arrested without incident.
Officers now say they believe the man was acting alone and are unsure of who he was trying to call while he was in the bank.
Trax and bus travel in the area has been disrupted. UTA has a shuttle going to get public transportation riders to the nearest Trax station.
No injuries have been reported.
