Ex-officer pleads no contest

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Apr 12, 2007 | by Pat Reavy Deseret Morning News

A former Salt Lake City police officer accused of attacking and threatening a man following a pick-up basketball game pleaded no contest Wednesday to a charge of disorderly conduct.

In exchange for the no contest plea in West Valley Justice Court on the class C misdemeanor charge, two class B misdemeanor counts of assault and a class B misdemeanor of unlawful detention against Marcus Barrett were dismissed. He will pay $200, be required to attend anger management classes and be put on probation. A no contest plea is not an admission of guilt but is treated as such for the purpose of sentencing.

Barrett was playing basketball along with Agim Fetahu at Gold's Gym at 3505 W. 3500 South last August.

The two got into a fight inside the gym following a hard foul in which Barrett repeatedly hit Fetahu with a closed fist, according to court documents. After the fight, Fetahu tried to leave but Barrett blocked the parking-lot exit with his patrol car. He then unleashed a profanity-laced tirade on Fetahu that was partially recorded by 911 dispatchers after Fetahu called for help from his car and refused to get out until other officers arrived.

Barrett is heard on the tape telling Fetahu, "Get out here (expletive). You're (expletive) with the wrong people," and later saying, "You wanna start something? Get out of the car right now ... You know what I am? ... I will put you under arrest."

Barrett, 24, resigned from the Salt Lake City Police Department in December. He had been with the department two years.

West Valley prosecutor Ryan Robinson said the plea offer was made Wednesday partially because of the lack of cooperation his office had received in the case from Fetahu.

The issue is not completely over, however. In January, Fetahu filed a $4 million dollar federal lawsuit against Barrett, two of Barrett's friends who were present, the Salt Lake City Police Department and the group that operates the Gold's Gym where the incident took place.

The suit contends Barrett deprived Fetahu of his rights and that supervising officers at Salt Lake Police Department deliberately ignored prior dangerous conduct by Barrett. It also claims discrimination based on national origin by Barrett and faults the gym management for failing to provide a secure environment.

E-mail: preavy@desnews.com