Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
- Tyler James Lyman was arrested in Riverton after allegedly threatening people with a sword.
- He was charged with aggravated assault after refusing police commands to drop the weapon.
RIVERTON — A man wielding a sword was arrested after police say he threatened to cut the heads off of two people, Riverton police say.
Tyler James Lyman was arrested on Jan. 17 on suspicion of aggravated assault at a Riverton home, according to an affidavit of probable cause.
On Jan. 17, police responded to a report of a domestic disturbance at 13697 S. 2600 West in Riverton. Police were told a man "had brandished a sword and threatened to cut the head off of the victim," according to court documents, which also state Lyman "had also threatened to cut the victim's head off and place the victim in the oven."
At the Riverton home, police attempted to make contact with people inside. The front door was barricaded, police say.
"The victim stated that she was fine and that she did not need assistance, and officers asked that she simply draw the blinds to show officers that she was in good health and safe," court documents say. Police say Lyman, however, "refused to allow the victim in the home to show officers that she was in good health."
Speaking from inside the home, the victim confirmed to police she was free to leave, but police say they heard Lyman say she was not, according to court documents.
"The suspect then stated that he was going to turn this into a hostage situation. The suspect also stated that he was armed and began screaming loudly." Then, the victim stopped responding verbally to officers. Because the police could not confirm the safety of the second victim, they forced the front door open.
At this point, "the second victim began using her body to shield officers from the suspect."
Police say Lyman was "holding a sword above his right shoulder stating that he would kill everyone and that he wanted officers to shoot him."
After refusing multiple police commands to drop the sword, and when the second victim was moved out of the way, a less lethal method was deployed by police which caused Lyman to drop the sword.
"The second victim then tried to pick up the sword and raised it momentarily before releasing it," police say.
The second victim told police Lyman had not threatened to cut off her head, but he had "pulled the sword from its sheath (a cane) and had made threats" toward the first victim, according to court documents.
Lyman was arrested on suspicion of threatening "to do bodily injury to another with an immediate show of force while wielding a dangerous weapon," according to the affidavit of probable cause.
