CRIME, POLICE + COURTS

Dave & Dujanovic: Officer Mike Criddle, a stolen identity, lives in chaos

Mar 3, 2021, 10:00 PM | Updated: Dec 29, 2022, 12:56 pm

Officer Mike Criddle Kaysville identity...

Image credit: Canva

KAYSVILLE, Utah — This is a story about  Kaysville police officer Mike Criddle, his wife, and the ramifications of online impersonation.

Officer Mike Criddle and his wife Amber say their lives were turned upsidedown by a woman posing as Criddle’s wife and making racist comments on Facebook.

The impersonation was discovered in late May 2020, around the time that George Floyd was killed in Minneapolis. Floyd died after a police officer, Derek Chauvin, knelt on his neck for more than 9 minutes in the process of making an arrest. 

Floyd’s death led to global protests against police brutality and for police accountability.

After Floyd’s death, someone behind a Facebook account using the name of Amber Criddle posted this comment: “one less Black man off the street.”

Death threats against Officer Mike Criddle, leaving work and home

That’s when the Criddle’s lives changed.

“We were suspended for weeks from our jobs. We left the state and didn’t feel safe in our own home,” Amber said. And the Criddle’s received death threats.

Criddle was placed on administrative leave as a police investigation continued. When his leave was up, he asked his chief if he could use his own time to remain off of the force. His chief agreed.

Host Dave Noriega was concerned about what he felt was a “guilt by association,” suspension of Officer Mike Criddle. 

“Officers are held to a different standard than most other industries. We have policies about being intimately involved with people who violate the law,” Olberg said. 

“We have to hold the public’s trust. If we don’t hold the public’s trust, we don’t have any real legitimacy.”

And Olberg said Criddle’s suspension was also a signal to the residents of Kaysville that Olberg understood the gravity of his stewardship over their safety, and frankly, their money.

“The public relies on me to use my best judgment in managing public safety, personnel, policy considerations.”

What happens now?

Chief Olberg told KSL Newsradio hosts Dave & Dujanovic that police believe they’ve identified the culprit. Olberg says she has targeted others in the past and that they are people with whom the suspect had negative interactions.

Police are unsure about whether they can file charges. They have not, as yet, made an arrest.

“Although I think, as a country, we’ve been seeing more and more of this online impersonation, we’re probably a little behind on legislating some of it,” Kaysville Police Chief Sol Olberg told KSL Newsradio hosts Dave and Dujanovic.

In fact, Utah lawmakers just passed H.B.239, Online Impersonation Prohibition. According to the text of the bill, “it makes it a criminal offense, under certain circumstances, to impersonate an individual online with the intent to harm, defraud, intimidate, or threaten any individual.” 

It is currently awaiting approval or veto by Gov. Spencer Cox.

 

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

Crime, Police + Courts

Exclusive video obtained by KSL NewsRadio shows Salt Lake hit-and-run in the Avenues neighborhood. ...

Eric Cabrera

WATCH: Exclusive video shows woman survives Salt Lake City hit and run

KSL NewsRadio has exclusively obtained footage of a Salt Lake City hit-and-run, where a woman was struck while out for a run in the Avenues.

5 hours ago

Defense attorney John Prior questions David Warwick during Chad Daybell's preliminary hearing in Fr...

Emma Keddington

Judge orders gag order for upcoming Chad Daybell case

Judge Steven Boyce has issued a gag order in the Chad Daybell case, after Daybell's attorney spoke with a media outlet.

5 hours ago

12 year old driver shown driving erratically on freeway...

Sam Herrera

WATCH: Police release dash cam footage of 12-year-old driver

The Utah Highway Patrol said the 12-year-old driver stole her mom's car. The girl was briefly arrested before being released to her parents.

8 hours ago

(Eric Cabrera, KSL NewsRadio)...

Simone Seikaly

Possible carjacking in West Valley City leads to car fire, ramp closure

The UHP said a car was following another car eastbound on the 201 and moved onto the ramp toward NB I-15 when one car rolled and caught fire.

8 hours ago

(Loren Richardson via KSL.com)...

Simone Seikaly

Brighton resident charged with aggravated assault for confronting snowboarder

According to court documents, and based on witness accounts, Brighton resident Keith Robert Stebbings threatened a snowboarder with a shotgun.

9 hours ago

IRS texts are bogus. Picture shows a sign saying "warning, scam alert" on a keyboard...

Britt Johnson

Millions to be paid for Utah’s largest real estate scheme settlement

Over $10 million in refunds will go to victims of a Utah-based real estate scheme following the settlement of a lawsuit.

18 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

Mother and cute toddler child in a little fancy wooden cottage, reading a book, drinking tea and en...

Visit Bear Lake

How to find the best winter lodging in Bear Lake, Utah

Winter lodging in Bear Lake can be more limited than in the summer, but with some careful planning you can easily book your next winter trip.

Happy family in winter clothing at the ski resort, winter time, watching at mountains in front of t...

Visit Bear Lake

Ski more for less: Affordable ski resorts near Bear Lake, Utah

Plan your perfect ski getaway in Bear Lake this winter, with pristine slopes, affordable tickets, and breathtaking scenery.

front of the Butch Cassidy museum with a man in a cowboy hat standing in the doorway...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Looking Back: The History of Bear Lake

The history of Bear Lake is full of fascinating stories. At over 250,000 years old, the lake has seen generations of people visit its shores.

silhouette of a family looking over a lake with a bird in the top corner flying...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

8 Fun Activities To Do in Bear Lake Without Getting in the Water

Bear Lake offers plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy without having to get in the water. Catch 8 of our favorite activities.

Wellsville Mountains in the spring with a pond in the foreground...

Wasatch Property Management

Advantages of Renting Over Owning a Home

Renting allows you to enjoy luxury amenities and low maintenance without the long-term commitment and responsibilities of owning a home.

Clouds over a red rock vista in Hurricane, Utah...

Wasatch Property Management

Why Southern Utah is a Retirement Paradise

Retirement in southern Utah offers plenty of cultural and recreational opportunities. Find out all that this region has to offer.

Dave & Dujanovic: Officer Mike Criddle, a stolen identity, lives in chaos