Man Arrested For The 452nd Time

SALT LAKE CITY - A transient was arrested for the 452nd time this week after allegedly trying to steal a bottle of mouthwash from a drug store.

Wilson Yazzie Benally has a long history with Salt Lake City Police and remains one of the department's most-arrested individuals. His run-ins with the law date back to 1995, officials said.

Benally and another transient were arrested after being confronted by a security officer at a drug store, located near 500 East and 400 South on Wednesday. Officials say they tried to steal a bottle of mouthwash.

Benally then reportedly identified himself as a police officer when confronted. Legitimate Salt Lake Police officers arrived to the drug store, where Benally produced two business cards from officers he had previously encountered -- offering them as proof that he was a cop.

However, when the officers asked which department Benally worked for, the transient reportedly said he was an employee of the Salt Lake Police Department -- the same as the arresting officers.

Benally was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on suspicion of shoplifting and impersonating a police officer.

Officials noted that Wednesday's arrest was no. 452 for Benally, who is considered one of the citys most frequent arrestees. Perhaps surprisingly, though, there is a man with an even larger arrest record.

Salt Lake authorities say their top offender is a man who they have dealt with more than 1,000 times between 2002 and 2006. In more than 600 of those run-ins, the unidentified man was arrested.