UPDATE: Utah Sheriffs' Association Issues Statement About ICE and Housing ICE Inmates.

On the night of October 16, 2023, a few minutes before midnight, the suspect in this case, Yosvany-Armando Cruz-Lopez, went to the Eagle Mountain Office of the Utah County Sheriff's Office to talk to Deputies.  A UCSO Sergeant had a phone conversation with Cruz-Lopez earlier and Cruz-Lopes agreed to come talk to him.  The Deputy arrested Cruz-Lopez and took him to the Utah County Jail where the Sergeant booked him.  A judge has ordered that Cruz-Lopez be held in jail without bail.  The adjusted and new charges are listed below.

From Utah Sheriffs' Association, President Mike Smith

On May 31, 2023, Michael Bernacke, Field Office Director for the Salt Lake City Field Office of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), sent the attached memo to Francisco Madrigal, Assistant Director, Enforcement, presumably for ICE.  He issued sharp and unwarranted criticism of the Utah County Sheriff's Office, Cache County Sheriff's Office, and Washington County Sheriff's Office after they terminated what he called "intergovernmental service agreements" for these agencies to house ICE inmates.

Riverton Mayor Trent Staggs also issued an opinion regarding his view of the decisions by Utah, Cache, and Washington County Sheriff's to cancel their contracts with ICE.  That statement is also attached below.

In the attached documents, you'll see where Utah's Sheriff's, and the Utah Sheriffs' Association, stand on Director Bernacke's opinion.  Sheriff Smith is available for interviews.

For questions or to arrange to speak with Sheriff Smith contact Sergeant Spencer Cannon, Public Information Officer, Utah County Sheriff's Office.

Cell:  (801)404-1912

Twitter:  @SGTCannonPIO or @UCSO

Email:  jamesc@utahcounty.gov