BLUFFDALE — A Lehi man is facing criminal charges accusing him of driving through the security checkpoint at Camp Williams to commit acts of terrorism.
Jared Adam Merryman, 41, was charged Thursday in 4th District Court with making a threat of terrorism, a second-degree felony; committing offenses against the government and failing to stop for police, a third-degree felony; and possession of a dangerous weapon with criminal intent, a class A misdemeanor.
On Nov. 27, Merryman "had driven through the main security checkpoint without stopping and was being pursued by security on the base" at Camp Williams, according to charging documents.
Merryman "drove through the checkpoint at a high rate of speed, ignoring restricted area signage and verbal commands to stop. During a vehicle pursuit, the suspect's vehicle eventually turned and drove over the curb and crashed into a secured fence line," the charges state.
Police say Merryman then got out of his vehicle while holding a knife.
"Security commanded him to drop the weapon, which he did, and the male was taken into custody. The officer read Jared his Miranda rights, and Jared told the officer he entered the property to 'commit acts of terrorism,' but states he did not want to carry it out," the charges allege. He then claimed he was "told to do it" but declined to say who gave him those instructions.
"Jared also stated he was on the phone to the FBI while he entered and drove around the property. The officer conducted an inventory search of the vehicle and found a loaded handgun inside the vehicle's middle console," according to the charges.
