ST. GEORGE — A bar fight involving a South Jordan man escorted out of the building for reportedly punching two men in the face triggered an altercation in the parking lot after the suspect’s brothers became involved. The incident ended with the arrest of all three, police say.
On Saturday, an officer on foot patrol near the One and Only bar on East St. George Boulevard around 1 a.m. was alerted to an assault that had taken place inside the business.
According to charging documents filed with the court, the suspect was removed from the bar by bouncers right after the incident while patrol units were dispatched to the scene.
After being escorted out of the bar, the suspect allegedly started walking away. When officers told him he was not free to leave, the man took off running, and after a short foot pursuit, a tussle ensued. The suspect reportedly reached into his pants pocket and grabbed what appeared to be a clear baggie containing suspected cocaine and discarded it, the report states.
Officers learned from multiple witnesses that earlier that night, the suspect had punched two men in the face before being removed from the bar. The witness statements were supported by the bar’s security footage that showed the suspect, who appeared to be agitated, punching two separate men in the face with a closed fist, “one immediately after the other,” the officer noted.
Neither victim appeared to provoke the suspect, nor did the men attempt to fight back. The suspect, identified as a 27-year-old South Jordan resident, Vunivalu Bloomfield, was arrested.
A group of individuals gathered in the bar parking lot while the arrest was taking place, including two men who were trying to speak with the detainee and appeared agitated. The men were identified as Noah Solomon Bloomfield, 28, of St. George, a 31-year-old, Tefua Wesley Bloomfield, from South Jordan.
Officers learned that all three men were brothers, and the two in the parking lot had to be asked to walk away multiple times, including one instance in which both men “were attempting to get to the car where their brother was placed,” the officer wrote.
The men walked away several times but then returned minutes later and engaged in the same behavior.
Shortly thereafter, Vinavalu Bloomfield, the suspect who was removed from the bar, was transported to Purgatory Correctional Facility and booked into jail facing several misdemeanor charges, including obstruction of justice, interfering with an arrest, possession of a controlled substance, failing to stop at the command of police and two counts of assault.
A background check of the suspect revealed an extensive criminal history with multiple cases and convictions for theft, burglary and multiple vehicle thefts reported in South Jordan and Salt Lake City.
Meanwhile, the two brothers remained in the bar parking lot when officers allege that Noah Bloomfield approached a group and tried to pick a fight with two separate individuals but was held back by one of the bouncers.
After the pair approached a group of bystanders in an aggressive and threatening manner, both were arrested and transported to jail, each facing one count of disorderly conduct, interfering with a peace officer and intoxication. Tefua also faces an additional count of disorderly conduct after being asked to cease.
All three men were released from jail the following day after posting a bond.
This report is based on statements from court records, police or other responders and may not contain the full scope of findings. Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.
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