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SALT LAKE CITY — A man who police say has a history of robbing others while armed with a hatchet is facing new charges.
James Michael Retic, 39, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on Wednesday and charged Thursday in 3rd District Court with aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony; aggravated assault, a third-degree felony; and vehicle burglary, a class A misdemeanor.
Salt Lake police were called to a 7-Eleven, 887 E. 400 South, just before 4 a.m. Wednesday 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.
According to charging documents filed Thursday, Salt Lake police are currently investigating an additional incident on Oct. 31 in which "Retic entered a hardware (store) and concealed items ... in an attempt to commit a theft. When confronted by store employees, a struggle ensued wherein Retic reached for a hatchet" that he was carrying.
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 officers on a bicycle, according to police. When he was arrested, officers reported that Retic was in possession of drugs and a knife.
Prosecutors have requested that Retic be held in the Salt Lake County Jail without the possibility of posting bail.
"The state is concerned that if Retic is allowed to remain out of custody, he will continue to victimize the community as he has shown he is unwilling to stop his behavior," according to court documents.
