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- A man who police say has a history of robberies while armed with a hatchet was arrested in Salt Lake City.
- Police say James Michael Retic, 39, "continually uses a hatchet to commit crimes."
SALT LAKE CITY — A man who police say has a history of robbing others while armed with a hatchet was arrested, again, early Wednesday.
James Michael Retic, 39, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of attempted aggravated assault, attempted aggravated robbery and attempted vehicle burglary.
Salt Lake police were called to a 7-Eleven, 887 E. 400 South, just before 4 a.m. on a report of a man with a hatchet. Officers arrived to find Retic holding the weapon and learned he had approached a man in a car, "raised the hatchet in a threatening manner, yelling and screaming at him," and "attempted to open his car door handle while holding the hatchet in his hand," according to a police booking affidavit.
Police were able to take Retic into custody. No injuries were reported.
Officers noted that Retic "continually uses a hatchet to commit crimes. He has been arrested multiple times within the last few months on felony charges involving a weapon."
On Oct. 31, Retic was arrested for investigation of drug-related charges. Police said in the booking statement Retic was also in possession of a hatchet at the time of that arrest.
On Aug. 23, he was arrested for investigation of aggravated robbery and possession of drug paraphernalia. In that case, police say Retic went to the 7-Eleven at 309 E. 400 South, stole items from the store and then "pulled a hatchet out of his pocket proceeding to get in a fighting stance against the victim," another arrest report states.
On July 22, Retic was arrested after trying to get away from police on a bicycle. When he was arrested, officers reported that Retic was in possession of drugs and a knife.
A preliminary hearing for several of those cases is scheduled in the 3rd District Court on Thursday.
