Gov. Cox campaign headquarters vandalized
Nov 6, 2023, 11:46 AM | Updated: 8:15 pm
SALT LAKE CITY — The campaign headquarters of Gov. Spencer Cox was broken into and vandalized Monday morning.
Cox tweeted about the break-in explaining that the person responsible has targeted him and his family before.
Rough morning for our team and my campaign headquarters. This person has targeted me and my family before and, fortunately, is now in custody. pic.twitter.com/ZGRnzukh5R
— Spencer Cox (@SpencerJCox) November 6, 2023
The office is located along Social Hall Avenue which is about 50 S. State Street.
According to the Department of Public Safety, it all started at the capitol at about 10:45 p.m. Sunday night. The DPS says they found a man they are familiar with climbing a wall and suffering from a serious mental health crisis.“Last night was very elevated and troopers believed he was in mental crisis based on his demeanor, it had changed,” said Maj. Steve Salas.
Salas identified the man as Samuel Zunn, who he says would often come to the capitol and talk with troopers. “We’ve actually had contact with Samuel for several weeks. He’s been polite. He’s been cordial,” he said.
But Salas says last night something was different. Zunn allegedly told troopers that he had vandalized the Governors campaign office. Salt Lake City police responded to the scene and found that to be true.
“This individual does have mental illness history. Doesn’t sound like he was on his medication. I don’t think there is any direct threat that we are aware of but we are investigating it. We are following up with his family and try to determine whether there is,” said Salas.
But Zunn may be back out on the streets. The DPS and Salt Lake City police both tell KSL TV that they did not take him into custody last night.
Salas says troopers took him to LDS Hospital for a mental health evaluation and don’t know if doctors ended up admitting him or allowing him to go free.
Salas says they will be following up.
“We are going to do everything we can to intervene. Whether its professional intervention, contacting the family, trying to find out what the diagnoses has been previously. Does the individual need medication?” said Salas.
