This case arises out of a melee that occurred in a Brig-ham City, Utah, home in the early morning hours of July 23, 2000. At about 3 a.m., four police officers responded to a call regarding a loud party at a residence. Upon arrivingat the house, they heard shouting from inside, and proceeded down the driveway to investigate. There, theyobserved two juveniles drinking beer in the backyard. They entered the backyard, and saw—through a screen door and windows—an altercation taking place in the kitchen of the home. According to the testimony of one ofthe officers, four adults were attempting, with some difficulty, to restrain a juvenile. The juvenile eventually “broke free, swung a fist and struck one of the adults inthe face.” 2005 UT 13, ¶2, 122 P. 3d 506, 508. The officer testified that he observed the victim of the blow spittingblood into a nearby sink. App. 40. The other adults continued to try to restrain the juvenile, pressing him upagainst a refrigerator with such force that the refrigerator began moving across the floor. At this point, an officeropened the screen door and announced the officers’ presence. Amid the tumult, nobody noticed. The officer entered the kitchen and again cried out, and as the occupants slowly became aware that the police were on thescene, the altercation ceased.
The officers subsequently arrested respondents and charged them with contributing to the delinquency of a minor, disorderly conduct, and intoxication.
