Ogden man arrested after ‘standing in window’ pointing restricted gun at officers, police say

Oct 29, 2024, 1:36 PM

FILE PHOTO of handcuffs and gavel...

FILE (KSL TV)

(KSL TV)

OGDEN —  An Ogden man was arrested Sunday after police said he was seen pointing a gun at them through a window of his home when officers went there looking for multiple missing children.

According to arrest documents, the mother of the missing children called authorities on Sunday. She told them the only family member who lived in the area was Ioane Monroe Unutoa. When she described to them where he lived, the documents say officers recognized the man from “previous involvements.”

An officer responded to his home near Jefferson Avenue and 2nd Street, where a child answered the front door.

“As I was standing on the front porch, two large dogs emerged from an adjoining apartment and began quickly approaching me,” the arresting officer wrote. “In fear the dogs would attack me, I stepped inside the residence just enough to close the front door and separate myself from the dogs.”

After the officer made it into the home, Unutoa reacted, quickly yelling for the officer to “get the **** out,” the document said.

“I explained to Ioane why I stepped in and tried to apologize, but he continued being verbally hostile, telling me to ‘Get the **** out of his house,” the officer wrote.

The officer exited Unutoa’s home after he “slammed the front door behind me,” the officer said. Further, the officer tried to converse with Unutoa through an open window to explain he was searching for missing children, but Unutoa “kept being confrontational and slammed the window shut.”

The officer then said he called for backup to discuss the next steps in locating the missing children. When the backup officer arrived, the first officer then noticed Unutoa “standing in the window, holding a rifle while looking in the direction of officers,” court documents state. The backup officer also saw him in the window, and the officers called for him to drop the gun.

“He ignored this command and continued to linger at the window, looking around for approximately 20 to 30 seconds,” the officer wrote. “Ioane then closed the drapes over the window and officers lost sight of him.”

Later, officers ran a background check on Unutoa and found he had previously been convicted of aggravated assault in the state of Utah and therefore was restricted from owning or possessing firearms. A warrant was obtained and signed by a judge to search Unutoa’s home and seize any firearms.

On Saturday, the warrant was served at Unutoa’s home — officers found four guns, ammunition and firearm accessories, in addition to a “green leafy substance” that officers said was marijuana, small dried psilocybin mushrooms and drug paraphernalia.

“All of the illegal drugs were located in unlocked containers where both children in the home could access them,” the document stated.

Unutoa was arrested and booked on four charges of possession of a dangerous weapon while restricted, second-degree felonies; two counts of child endangerment, third-degree felonies, and counts of possession of a controlled substance or paraphernalia, class B misdemeanors.

At some point on Saturday or Sunday, the children were located, but court documents did not state how, or whether they were confirmed to be inside Unutoa’s home.

KSL 5 TV Live

Local News

Pope Francis touches his eyes as he presides over a mass for the jubilee of the armed forces in St....

Nicole Winfield, Associated Press

Pope rebukes Trump administration over migrant deportations, and appears to take direct aim at Vance

Pope Francis has issued a major rebuke to the Trump administration’s mass deportation of migrants.

10 minutes ago

Steven Willard Anderson...

Michael Houck

Body of missing man found in Starvation Reservoir, sheriff’s office confirms

Authorities confirmed they found the body of a man who went missing nearly two decades ago in Starvation Reservoir.

2 hours ago

A group of cancer activists at Utah's Capitol Hill for Cancer Action Day. (American Cancer Society)...

Tamara Vaifanua

Looking Out for the Good: Cancer activists to gather with elected officials on Capitol Hill

Activists and patients will be at Utah's Capitol Hill to meet with elected officials, sharing their stories and pushing policies that aid the fight against cancer.

4 hours ago

KSL’s Matt Gephardt blends cream, milk and sugar to make ice cream. The cost of his homemade ice ...

Matt Gephardt

Gephardt Gets It: We made five often used foods on our own. Here’s where we saved money on our groceries

Groceries have gotten pricey. But by making some of your own food, you can cut costs by over 30%.

13 hours ago

A Provo City banner pictured Oct. 2024. (Mark Less, KSL TV)...

Brian Carlson

Provo proposing water rate hike, city council to vote Tuesday

An upcoming vote could force Provo homeowners to pay more for water. The city council plans to vote Tuesday on a proposal to increase water rates across the board and penalize those who use the most.

14 hours ago

Police give update to large protest downtown over the weekend that led to a minor confrontation dur...

Darby Sparks

Salt Lake City police respond to weekend protest, vehicle vs pedestrian incident

Police give update to large protest downtown over the weekend that led to a minor confrontation during a march that blocked traffic.

15 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

luxury living room with a classic white sofa and sofa, interior design...

Lighting Design

Revisiting home lighting trends for 2025

Looking for inspiration to revamp your home lighting? This article outlines some of the emerging lighting trends for 2025.

holiday gift basket with blue tissue paper and gingerbread cookies...

Kneaders Bakery & Cafe

Holiday hacks for a stress-free season

Get more out of your time with family and loved ones over the holidays by following these tips for a stress-free season.

2 computer techs in a computer shop holding up a computer server with the "hang loose" sign...

PC Laptops

A comprehensive guide to choosing the right computer

With these tips, choosing the right computer that fits your needs and your budget will be easier than ever.

crowds of people in a German style Christmas market...

This Is The Place Heritage Park

Celebrate Christkindlmarket at This Is The Place Heritage Park!

The Christkindlmarket is an annual holiday celebration influenced by German traditions and generous giving.

Image of pretty woman walking in snowy mountains. Portrait of female wearing warm winter earmuff, r...

Lighting Design

Brighten your mood this winter with these lighting tricks

Read our lighting tips on how to brighten your mood in the winter if you are experiencing seasonal affective disorder.

A kitchen with a washer and dryer and a refrigerator...

Appliance Man

Appliance Man: a trusted name in Utah’s home appliance industry

Despite many recent closures of local appliance stores, Appliance Man remains Utah's trusted home appliance business and is here to stay.

Ogden man arrested after ‘standing in window’ pointing restricted gun at officers, police say