Midvale man jailed for allegedly choking officer during struggle

MIDVALE, Utah (ABC4) -- A Midvale man was jailed over the weekend after allegedly choking a police officer during a struggle in the man's apartment.

Rubin Serna, 42, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on a first-degree felony charge of disarming a police officer and a second-degree felony of assault on a peace officer producing injury. He also faces misdemeanor charges of assault on a peace officer, assault, intoxication, unlawful detention, and domestic violence in the presence of a child.

According to court documents, police responded to an apartment complex near 7400 South State Street after receiving reports of a domestic disturbance. The suspect, identified as Serna, was reportedly "getting violent" and was heavily intoxicated.

Upon arrival, police reported hearing arguing inside the apartment. When he knocked on the door, Serna answered but he refused to speak to the police.

"[He] attempted to slam the door closed. To prevent any harm to any of the other occupants inside [the apartment], I pushed the door open and Ruben immediately started fighting with officers," the ...