Several police officers in Salt Lake City are facing discipline after disturbing bodycam footage showed them mishandling the body of a homeless man who had passed away. The incident happened in August 2024, but the footage wasn’t made public until February 28, 2025.
The man, 47-year-old Jason Lloyd, was found dead in a tent near Brooklyn Street and Washington Avenue. Police said his death was not suspicious. But what happened after officers arrived at the scene has sparked outrage.
In the video, a contractor from the Office of the Medical Examiner (OME) hands a utility knife to an officer-in-training, Dakota Smigel, and asks if they can do some “controlled popping” on blisters on Lloyd’s arm. The officer asks if it’s a joke but then goes ahead and uses the knife on Lloyd’s skin. Other officers can be heard laughing in the background.
It gets worse. According to a police press release, senior officers told Smigel not to mention the knife in his official report. However, early drafts of Smigel’s report show that he did try to include what happened.
Salt Lake City Police Chief Mike Brown called the officers’ behavior “unprofessional, discourteous, disrespectful, and offensive.” He apologized to Lloyd’s family, saying every person deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.
Following an internal investigation, multiple officers were disciplined. Officer Mark Keep, who violated eight department policies, resigned before facing any official punishment. Paul Mullenax was suspended for three days for breaking four policies, and Michelle Peterson received a formal warning for two policy violations. Overall, seven employees were put on paid leave during the investigation, though most have since returned to work.
Despite the shocking footage, the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office announced on February 14 that no criminal charges would be filed against any of the officers.
For Lloyd’s family, the video added even more pain to an already heartbreaking situation. His sister, Heather Fisher, said they couldn’t have an open casket at his funeral, and seeing the footage of how he was treated has left them grieving all over again.
“Jason was homeless, but he was still loved,” Fisher said. “He had a family who cared for him deeply. And the way they treated him was horrible.”
