Utah Man Attempts Bus Hijacking and Attacks Officer With Lighter

The incident occurred on June 26, 2024, when Layton police responded to a report involving a Utah Transit Authority bus. Police identified the suspect as 36-year-old Keith Sterling Frandsen. According to charging documents, the situation involved an air-duster can, a fire extinguisher, a disabled bus and a small lighter that was allegedly used against an officer.

A Strange Situation Develops on a UTA Bus

According to police records, Frandsen was riding a UTA bus when he allegedly inhaled chemicals from an air-duster can. He then reportedly told the driver to stop the bus, grabbed the driver's arm and sprayed the driver in the face with the contents of the can.

The bus was eventually stopped, allowing the driver and another passenger to get off. Frandsen allegedly remained inside, where investigators said he sprayed a fire extinguisher throughout the interior of the bus.

The Driver Gets Away From the Bus

Once the driver and passenger had exited, the situation became even more unusual. Police said Frandsen attempted to take control of the bus and drive away.

However, the UTA bus had been disabled, preventing him from simply driving away. That gave responding officers an opportunity to approach while the vehicle remained stationary.

The attempted hijacking charge later filed against Frandsen was a first-degree felony.

Officers Arrive to Confront the Suspect

When officers arrived, Frandsen was reportedly still near or inside the disabled bus. Body-camera footage released by KSL shows an officer approaching and attempting to get him to come outside.

The encounter initially appears relatively controlled, but the situation changes quickly once Frandsen exits the bus. Instead of simply complying with the officer's instructions, he allegedly throws his phone toward the officer.

That immediately turns the encounter into a physical struggle.

The Phone Is Thrown at the Officer

According to the police account, Frandsen attempted to give his phone to the officer even though the officer had not asked for it. The phone was then thrown toward the officer, prompting the struggle seen in the body-camera footage.

The officer attempted to take Frandsen into custody while Frandsen resisted. The footage shows how difficult it can be for a single officer to control a resisting suspect when the encounter suddenly becomes physical.

The Lighter Changes Everything

During the struggle, police said Frandsen pulled out a small lighter and attempted to burn the officer.

This is the detail that makes the incident particularly unusual. A lighter may appear harmless in an ordinary situation, but during a physical struggle it became another potential weapon and created an additional danger for the officer.

According to charging documents, the officer continued attempting to arrest Frandsen while the suspect allegedly continued trying to burn him.

Bystanders Help the Officer

The body-camera video shows that the officer did not immediately have complete control of the suspect. KSL reported that bystanders eventually helped the officer restrain Frandsen.

Their involvement demonstrates how quickly a public disturbance can attract the attention of people nearby. What began as an incident involving a bus suddenly became a physical confrontation involving police and members of the public.

The officer ultimately managed to place Frandsen in handcuffs and move the situation toward a conclusion.

The Officer Suffers Minor Injuries

Police reported that the officer suffered minor abrasions and lacerations to both hands. The officer's police radio was also broken during the struggle.

Although the reported injuries were not life-threatening, the confrontation could have ended much more seriously. The officer was dealing with a suspect who was allegedly resisting arrest while simultaneously attempting to use a lighter against him.

Witnesses Help Explain What Happened

After Frandsen was detained, officers spoke with witnesses and the bus driver to establish what had happened before they arrived.

The released body-camera video includes statements from the bus driver and witnesses, along with the arresting officer's account of the encounter. This provides additional context beyond the few seconds showing the physical struggle.

Multiple Charges Follow

Frandsen was booked into the Davis County Jail following the incident. Police records cited charges including bus hijacking, assault on a police officer and interfering with a police officer, along with additional misdemeanor allegations involving the incident.

The formal charges filed in July 2024 included bus hijacking as a first-degree felony, assault on a police officer as a class A misdemeanor and interfering with a police officer as a class B misdemeanor.

A Previous Criminal Case Complicated the Situation

The bus incident also occurred while Frandsen was already dealing with previous criminal matters. KSL reported that court records showed he had previously pleaded guilty to aggravated assault resulting in serious injury and to attempting to disarm a police officer.

He had received a sentence of one to 15 years in prison that was stayed, with probation imposed. Following the new allegations, Adult Probation and Parole was recommending that the previously suspended prison sentence be imposed.

Bodycam Footage Shows the Chaotic Arrest

One of the most revealing parts of the case is the body-camera footage. Instead of simply showing the final arrest, the recording captures the sequence from the officer's arrival through the suspect's removal from the bus and the physical struggle.

The footage also includes interviews conducted afterward, allowing viewers to hear how the officer, bus driver and witnesses described the incident.

An Attempted Hijacking Becomes a Police Struggle

The incident demonstrates how quickly a public transportation disturbance can escalate. What reportedly began with strange behavior aboard a UTA bus progressed to an alleged assault on the driver, the use of a fire extinguisher, an attempted takeover of the bus and finally a physical confrontation with police.

The suspect never successfully drove the bus away because it had been disabled, but the situation still created multiple dangers for the driver, passengers, officers and people nearby.

The Arrest Ends a Chaotic Encounter

By the end of the confrontation, Frandsen was handcuffed and taken into custody. The officer survived the encounter with minor reported injuries, while the bus driver and other passenger had already escaped the vehicle before police arrived.

The released body-camera footage gives a detailed look at the final stage of the incident and shows how officers and bystanders eventually managed to bring the struggle under control.

A Routine Bus Ride Turns Into a Criminal Investigation

The case stands out because of the number of unexpected developments packed into a short period of time. A passenger allegedly inhaled chemicals, a bus driver was assaulted, a fire extinguisher was discharged, an attempt was made to take control of the bus and an officer was allegedly attacked with a lighter.

For the officers who responded, the challenge was no longer simply dealing with a disruptive passenger. They had to secure the suspect, protect themselves and others and determine what had happened before their arrival.

The body-camera footage ultimately provides a rare look at the entire sequence—from the disabled UTA bus to the final handcuffs—and shows just how quickly an unusual incident can turn into a dangerous police confrontation.