DA’s request for low bail is under scrutiny following arrest of suspect in second SWAT standoff

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — 2News is investigating why Michael Joseph Daly, 40, was apparently allowed to violate a protective order against him multiple times. Dailey, a convicted felon, was arrested Friday morning after a second standoff with the Salt Lake City Police SWAT team. Court records show Daly has been out of control for years but continues to escape from prison, leading to two standoffs with the SLCPD SWAT team in less than a month.

Court and Utah Board of Pardon and Parole records show Daley was convicted of firing a gun from a vehicle in 2009. The charge of violating a protective order was dropped. He was sent to prison and was granted parole in 2011. He was sent back to jail on charges of being a restricted person in possession of a firearm and criminal mischief. He was released on parole again in 2021. BOPP revoked his parole in 2022 and he was released later that year when his sentence expired.

Over the years, court records show numerous criminal cases involving domestic violence, assault, intoxication, disorderly conduct, domestic violence in the presence of children, drug use, drug possession, possession of drug paraphernalia, restrictions on the possession of a firearm by a person, violations upon release from – in custody. agreements, driving under the influence, careless driving, speeding over 100 mph and criminal mischief. In many cases, the charges were reduced and dropped.

In 2016, he was charged with threatening to kill the mother of his child by telling her he was going to kill her and himself. Knowing he had a gun in his bedroom, she climbed out the window to call police, court documents say.

On August 21, 2023, Daly was granted a permanent protective order against his current girlfriend. According to the information, the protective order shows that Daly is prohibited from committing domestic violence against her.

On September 12, 2024, Salt Lake City police responded to a domestic violence incident. Daly’s girlfriend told Officer Reed that he came to her place of work; they quarreled, he grabbed her and hit her with his head. He was charged with violating a continuing protective order, a third-degree felony, and assault, a class A misdemeanor. Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill and Deputy District Attorney Dixie Jackson requested bail of $2,500 for the following reason: “Previously accused was found guilty of a domestic violence offense involving the same victim.”

It goes on to say that the State believes that because of his actions on the previous domestic violence charge, she is likely to be subject to further domestic violence by him if he remains in custody. He escaped from prison. He then failed to appear and Third District Court Judge Amber Mettler issued a warrant for his arrest. His bail was then set at $5,000 and he posted it.

Less than a month later, on Oct. 6, charging documents show Daly climbed to the outside balcony of her apartment and forced her way inside. The protective order was still in effect. He accused her of cheating and took her mobile phone. She tried to get her phone back, but he pushed her and started struggling. The same documents show that she, fearing for her safety, went out onto the balcony of the second floor of the apartment. But he locked the door, so she jumped off the balcony to escape. Salt Lake City police responded, but Daly refused to comply with their commands and barricaded himself inside the apartment, blocking the front door with a refrigerator. A SWAT team eventually surrounded the apartment. He eventually surrendered and his arrest was captured on camera by 2News. Daly was charged with robbery, a second-degree felony, violation of a continuing protective order, a third-degree felony, assault, and third-degree felonies and interference with police, a class B misdemeanor.

Salt Lake City police officer Connor Lucero, who arrested Daly, was able to explain to Third District Court Judge Heather Brereton that Daly would pose a “substantial danger” to the victim if he was released on bail. Judge Brereton ordered Daly held without bail. However, when District Attorney Gill and Deputy District Attorney Rory Stokes filed formal charges, they made it clear that the victim could be subject to more domestic violence from Daley if he was released from jail, but only asked that his bail be set at $5,000.

The warrant for Daley’s arrest stated the following:

“The State requires the following conditions: 1. Satisfy the $5,000 financial condition based on the following: The State believes that due to defendant’s recent domestic violence case involving the same victim and his actions therein, in any event, it is likely that the victim will be subjected to further domestic violence by the accused if he is released from custody.”

For Chris Bertram, a former deputy chief of the Unified Police Department who is now a private investigator, consultant and college professor, it was a surprise.

Bertram reviewed court records in the case before speaking on camera with 2News Investigates. He said, “Please understand that the case has been sent to the District Attorney’s Office, they have made the decision to ask for a $5,000 bond, and the judge has signed a $5,000 bond.”

Third District Court Judge William Kendall set bail at $5,000, as prosecutors had requested, and Beehive Bail Bonds posted $5,000 bail for Daley and he was released from jail.

PREVIOUS REPORTING ON MICHAEL DAILY:

Bertram went on to say, “I wouldn’t expect a $100,000 bail, but I would expect that the bail could be higher to ensure that this person will show up to court and abide by public safety rules while he’s there – that’s kind of surprising.” “

On Oct. 31, Salt Lake City police were called to another domestic situation at the same apartment. Daley was inside, holding his ex-girlfriend inside with a protective order and not allowing her to leave. Probable cause shows that Daly had a meat cleaver in her hand and she walked back down the stairs to the balcony to escape.

A witness told police that Daly was standing in front of the door with a “large” kitchen knife in his hand, with a chair leaning against the door.

His ex-girlfriend told police he had been at the apartment the night before and would not let her leave. The same affidavit shows police confirmed he was holding a large butcher knife using a police drone.

She also told police that Daly tried to get people to come to the apartment to sex trafficking her, and she saw him inject a syringe of methamphetamine into her mouth.

SWAT was again called to the scene, and Daley barricaded the door to the apartment and repeatedly refused to comply with all police commands. When he turned himself in, police said he said he came to the apartment to “get high.”

Bertram said, “You shine a light on this, it will most likely be in front of the district attorney, in front of the judges who are hearing this now. The bars will be raised.”

We contacted the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office to find out why, given the fact that they charged him with multiple felonies but only asked for a $5,000 bond with no restrictions. Communications Manager Keith Chalmers said he was working on our request. We did not receive a response by the due date and later received the following response:

“In domestic and sexual violence cases, judges often hold the defendant on bail as a precaution to ensure that prosecutors have enough time to try the case before the defendant is released from prison. This is a 72-hour detention after most arrests unless released by the court. Judges often have less information than the investigating prosecutor because the investigation does not end with the arrest of a person. This defendant’s behavior has recently escalated and as a result, our office has sought an increase in bail,” said Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill.

Also on Friday, in the latest court filing, the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office filed the following charges against Daley: aggravated kidnapping involving domestic violence, a first-degree felony, violation of a permanent criminal protective order, a third-degree felony. Felony Possession of a Dangerous Weapon by a Disabled Person, a Class A Misdemeanor, and Interfering with a Peace Officer, a Class B Misdemeanor. This time they asked that Daly be held without bail.

A news release from District Attorney Gill and Deputy District Attorney Dixie Jackson said, “The defendant’s actions in this case are troubling. The accused held the victim in her home for an extended period of time, during which time he refused to let her leave and blocked the door if she tried. At some point during the incident, the defendant began barricading the door while holding a large butcher knife. The State believes that because of defendant’s prior actions and his actions in this case, he would pose a threat to the safety of the public if released from custody.”

The filing also states that a lethality assessment was carried out on his ex-girlfriend, the victim, and that she was rated “high risk.” She says he has access to guns and can easily obtain them, and that he has “violent” or “constant” control over her daily activities, and she believes he will try to kill her.

The complaint continues: “The State believes that if the defendant is released from custody, the victim will likely suffer further domestic violence or die at the hands of the defendant. The State therefore requests that the accused be held without bail.”

Additionally, a request has been filed to revoke the $5,000 Beehive Bail Bonds posted for Dailey.

___