WEST JORDAN — The man wanted in connection with the killings of a West Jordan couple was arrested in California, but he did not surrender peacefully, police report.
Albert Enoch Johnson, 31, of West Jordan, was arrested Wednesday in Stockton, California, West Jordan police announced.
Local law enforcement in California, along with U.S. marshals, found Johnson in a residence about 2 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time.
In a booking mugshot issued by the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office, Johnson has visible injuries to his face including his right eye that is swollen shut. West Jordan Police Sgt. JC Holt said those injuries were incurred while Johnson was being taken into custody.
“Mr. Johnson did try to evade officers. Mr. Johnson did try to escape officers and he did resist arrest. We regret that he made that decision. However we’re grateful that no officers were injured in his apprehension,” he said.
It was something law enforcers “thought we may be up against,” Holt said, noting that Johnson had been “really avoiding contact with us.”
Johnson was wanted in the shooting deaths of Tony Butterfield, 31, and Katherine Butterfield, 30, early Saturday.
The bodies of the Butterfields were found at their home, 3277 W. 6920 South, after a neighbor called police after hearing gunshots and a woman screaming about 1:15 a.m., according to police. Tony Butterfield’s body was found in the backyard and his wife’s just inside the doorway. Police have not said if each person was shot more than once.
Police originally reported that Johnson may have been cut or stabbed during his confrontation with the Butterfields. Holt said Wednesday he had not received any information from California authorities about those alleged injuries.
The Butterfields’ three children, all under the age of 4 — the youngest just 6-months-old — were also home at the time. They were not injured. It was not known if the children saw or heard anything that morning.
Johnson’s wife, Sina Johnson, 29, was arrested for investigation of obstruction of justice and tampering with evidence on Monday.
Also on Monday, West Jordan police held a press conference to announce Albert Johnson was being sought as their main suspect and released a photo of him. Holt said Wednesday that was done with the intent of generating new tips from the public, which it did. Holt said detectives received several tips that helped lead them to Stockton.
Police believe Johnson had connections in California but did not elaborate on whether he was found staying with friends or relatives.
Detectives from the West Jordan Police Department were en route to California Wednesday to interview Johnson and return his vehicle that was recovered there back to Utah to be processed for evidence.
Holt said police intend to screen charges of aggravated murder with the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office and begin the process of having Johnson extradited back to Utah.
As for a motive for the killings or more information on how Johnson and the Butterfields knew each other, police remained tight-lipped Wednesday.
“We will not be elaborating further on his relationship other than he was known to them, he was known fairly well to them, and we believe it was definitely targeted and definitely an isolated incident,” Holt said.
He could not say Wednesday whether Johnson intended on killing the Butterfields when he went to their house. Furthermore, Holt said, police would not yet be elaborating on the association between Johnson and his victims because “there are some other investigative efforts going on that we feel like are very relevant to the case.”
Holt declined to say if that meant potential additional crimes were being investigated, but noted “there are other factors to the case that could play in.”
Holt said the Butterfield family was informed this morning of Johnson’s arrest before the information was released publicly. Officers who talked to the family said they sensed “relief from relatives,” he said.
A memorial fund has been set up to help the Butterfields’ children.