Several media outlets and the Huffington Post have reported that a survivalist known as "Mountain Man" was caught on April 2, after a six-year-long manhunt, and is expected to be facing felony charges for burglarizing several cabins in Utah.
T.K., 45, broke into the cabins during the winter and lived outdoors in the woods in the summer, according to authorities.
In some of the burglaries T.K. shot bullets into the cabin walls and left behind threatening notes.
T.K. was arrested outside of Ferron in central Utah. He had tried to avoid capture by firing several shots at officers and at a helicopter. T.K., equipped with snowshoes, rifles, a handgun and wearing camouflage clothing, was no match for officers on snowmobiles and a snowcat.
The area, a 9,200 elevation, was covered in almost 4 feet of snow.
Sanpete County Sheriff B.N. commented, "He was severely outgunned at the time. He ran into a number of officers that were also well armed and he could see that he was out of his league."
T.K. told officers he was relieved to be out of the cold and then offered a map – showing everywhere he had been.
B.N. added, "He's done well at this for a number of years, obviously. We're extremely happy and relieved. All of us are safer because he's in custody at this point."
T.K. has been booked into the Sanpete County jail.
According to authorities, T.K., breaking into dozens of cabins in remote southern Utah, had been caught in the act on motion-triggered cameras in 2002. Seen wearing snowshoes and carrying a stolen rifle, residents dubbed him the "Mountain Man."
Taking supplies from the cabins during the winter, T.K. lived off what he had stolen during the summer.
One resident, E.B., said, "It is a relief to know that he has been caught. If he slept in the beds that's fine with me as long as he didn't tear up the place."
It was a tip from two hunters – that had met a man near a mountain lake on March 30 that referred to himself as "Mountain Man" – that led authorities to the area.
Detectives tracked T.K., and by April 1, the area was swarming with several different police agencies – 40 officers in all – joining the search. Eventually T.K. was flushed out of a cabin that he had barricaded himself in.
A suggested motive for T.K.'s burglaries is that he may have simply been disgusted with civilization.
Arrest warrants had been issued on burglary and weapons charges in Iron, Kane and Garfield counties.
Though T.K. had not shown any violent tendencies toward others, police were concerned because he was armed and his behavior was threatening. One note that T.K. left behind for authorities to find read, "Hey Sheriff ... Gonna put you in the ground!"
In some cabins he had shot up he also defaced religious icons.
If you have been arrested and charged with a crime contact a criminal defense attorney from our directory today!
