Salt Lake City releases footage of Plaza confrontation

Salt Lake City has released nearly three minutes of black-and-white security footage showing the altercation between four LDS Church security guards and a gay couple who kissed on the Main Street Plaza earlier this month.

Derek Jones, 25, and Matt Aune, 28, were detained by security guards and cited by the Salt Lake Police Department on July 9. On Wednesday, however, Salt Lake City prosecutor Sim Gill announced he would not pursue the case.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints owns the Main Street Plaza walkway, but Gill said there "continues to be a mistaken belief by many visitors that there is a public right of way."

The church security footage, which was given to prosecutors as part of the trespassing case, does not show the kiss that led to the couple's arrest.

Aune and Jones said the incident involved a hug and a kiss on the cheek. In a statement last week, however, LDS Church officials said the couple "engaged in passionate kissing, groping, profane and lewd language and had obviously been using alcohol."

The security camera pans right and zooms in on four church security guards in dark suits confronting Aune and Jones. The couple is sitting down, with Aune draping his right arm around Jones' shoulders.

The two parties appear to be arguing. After 30 seconds, Aune points his finger at a church security guard, at which point the guards attempt to handcuff the couple.

Aune and Jones are separated. One guard grabs Jones, who is taken off camera. The three remaining guards fight with Aune, who appears to struggle against being handcuffed. The struggle moves behind a tree and is obscured from view.

The camera then pans back to one guard speaking with Jones, who is handcuffed and sitting down.

Aune and Jones said the security guards "slammed" them to the ground, a claim the guards denied in a police report.

Aune and Jones said Wednesday they do not plan on pursuing any legal action.

"This is where we walk away," Aune said.

e-mail: afalk@desnews.com