Heber man arrested after hours-long standoff in parking lot

HOST — A man was arrested Sunday in Heber, following an intense confrontation lasting several hours in a parking lot.

Richard Cole Steed, 41, was arrested Sunday by the Heber Police Department for crimes including aggravated assault, possession of a deadly weapon and driving while intoxicated.

According to a booking affidavit, officers with the department responded to reports of a heavily intoxicated man on a porch, asking residents if they wanted marijuana or cocaine. After being asked to leave the residence, Steed allegedly returned with “an extreme odor of an alcoholic beverage.”

Officers then responded to another call, this time of a man brandishing a gun in the direction of staff members at a local bar, according to the document. Witnesses at the bar said a staff member found cocaine and money in the bathroom, causing Steed to “freak out” and expose a gun in his waistband.

According to the affidavit, officers located Steed in his vehicle and refused to comply with orders to exit, despite receiving commands via loudspeaker and phone calls. Steed was also seen taking drinks from a flask and placing newspapers on the dashboard, which “prevented officers from seeing into the vehicle.”

Officers identified Steed by matching the vehicle he was in with a description of his car from the previous call.

Steed then made various threats to the officers, saying he would shoot anyone who approached the vehicle. At that point, officers used a “pepper ball gun” to subdue Steed, after which he removed his pants before being taken into custody.

According to the affidavit, Steed's vehicle was towed for the evidence inventory, and during this time, officers located open alcohol containers, but were unable to locate the suspected firearm. At the time of filing the affidavit, officers had not completed their investigation.

Steed has also been previously arrested for crimes including trafficking in material harmful to a minor and obscenity involving a child, and an arrest warrant was requested on May 7, following 18 calls for service in one month , all involving Steed at various addresses throughout the Midway. area.

Cole was booked into the Wasatch County Jail on nine charges, including:

• driving under the influence, first offense in ten years, a class B misdemeanor;
• drinking alcohol in a vehicle, a class C misdemeanor;
• aggravated assault, a third-degree felony;
• possession of a deadly weapon with intent to assault, a class A misdemeanor;
• threatening violence, a class B misdemeanor;
• possession of a dangerous weapon by a regulated person, a second-degree felony;
• interfering with a peace officer, a class B misdemeanor;
• misconduct, refusal to obey a police officer, an offense;
• carrying a dangerous weapon while under the influence of alcohol/drugs, a class B misdemeanor.