Man arrested for allegedly trying to hijack TRAX train

SALT LAKE CITY – A man had to be placed in a restraint unit after trying to break into the driver's cabin of a TRAX to force the train to return to a missed stop.

Isaiah Spendlove, 27, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on misdemeanor charges of assault, interfering with a police officer, failure to disclose identity and felony charge of assault with the he intended to commit a bus hijacking, according to the police affidavit. .

Saturday morning, police said Spendlove tried to intimidate the operator of a Utah Transit Authority TRAX train at 150 S. 400 West.

The affidavit said Spendlove was “banging on the door” in an attempt to gain access to the driver's cabin and force the operator to reverse the train to a stop he had missed.

Police reported that the TRAX train driver and another passenger yelled at Spendlove to leave the train. Spendlove began swinging his fists at the other passenger “in an attempt to assault him,” according to the affidavit.

UTA police officers began arriving during the alleged assault and attempted to arrest Spendlove, according to the affidavit. Police reported that Spendlove resisted officers and attempted to remain on the train.

“The officers were able to get (Spendlove) off the train and (he) was able to resist,” the affidavit states. “(Spendlove) was placed in a ‘taco’ package for restraint and transportation.”

Police reported that Spendlove refused to identify himself to officers until he was taken into custody.