The man who prompted a law enforcement response at Albertsons in Jackson last month was in the country illegally and has been deported at least twice prior, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement told Cowboy State Daily on Wednesday.
Salvador Catarino-Jacinto, 33 of Mexico, became the subject of a law enforcement response March 9 at the Albertsons store after he held himself at knifepoint and caused a disturbance, court documents say.
Jackson Hole Police Department officers were dispatched to the store at around midday based on a report of a male with a knife who had cut his throat, the case affidavit says.
The document says more officers and Teton County Sheriff’s Office personnel arrived on scene, evacuated the store and confronted the man, Catarino-Jacinto, who was “behind the customer service counter with a large — 8 inch — knife holding it to his throat.”
Sgt. Justin Lancaster urged him to put the knife down, but the man refused, then started etching “severe lacerations” in his throat, the affidavit says.
Teton County Sheriff’s Deputy Joseph McGrath used a ban bag-like shot on the man, which was unsuccessful.
Lancaster tased the man, momentarily subduing him, the affidavit says.
Four law enforcement employees put Catarino-Jacinto in handcuffs and gave him medical attention before emergency medical personnel arrived on scene.
The next paragraph of the affidavit is redacted.
The police department had reported at the time that the man may have faced protective mental health confinement.
While Catarino-Jacinto was at the hospital, however, his blood tested positive for meth, says the document.
“Catarino-Jacinto admitted to medical staff that he uses methamphetamine regularly,” says the affidavit, citing medical records.
Catarino-Jacinto was charged with one count of drug use, which is a misdemeanor.
Then Came ICE
Eight days later, ICE arrested Catarino-Jacinto.
He has previous convictions for illegal entry and illegal reentry, an agency spokesman told Cowboy State Daily in a Wednesday email.
“He has been removed from the country at least twice before in July of 2012 and May of 2017,” says the statement.
This time, he was removed March 25, the email says.
Repeat immigration offenders "are given priority for removal," according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services guide to immigration.
As for whether the man’s removal was due to a criminal arrest or a mental health hold, the email emphasizes Catarino-Jacinto’s criminal booking and adds, “ICE does not receive notification of mental health holds or subjects taken into protective custody.”
Clair McFarland can be reached at clair@cowboystatedaily.com.
