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OGDEN — A Weber County farmer who is president of the Utah Farm Bureau Federation was arrested Tuesday for investigation of assault after police say a physical fight with an employee led to a need for medical attention.
The person who was assaulted called 911 and said he confronted his boss, Ron Bennett Gibson, because he and other co-workers had not received their last four paychecks, according to a police booking affidavit. The altercation was caught on video.
Following a verbal argument, Gibson told the employee to "shut up" in Spanish and then slapped the employee across the face, the affidavit alleges. The employee's mouth was bleeding, according to police, and he was taken to the hospital for treatment.
The Weber County Sheriff's Office said the investigation also led to allegations of fraud and human trafficking, it said the Utah Department of Public Safety's State Bureau of Investigation is looking into those allegations.
"During this unfolding legal process, residents of Weber County are urged to exhibit patience and allow the judicial system to operate independently," a statement from the sheriff's office said.
Gibson is listed online as the president of the Utah Farm Bureau Federation, which describes itself as the "state's largest voluntary organization of farmers." The group of more than 34,000 member families "committed to protecting Utah's farms and ranches" is an affiliate of the much larger American Farm Bureau Federation.
He is a sixth-generation dairy farmer in Weber County and had served as a local farming representative for the Utah Farm Bureau before becoming its president, according to his bio on the website. The organization states that his company, Gibson Green Acres, milks about 1,500 dairy cows and also grows more than 1,500 acres of corn and alfalfa.
In a statement to KSL, Gibson apologized for the incident.
"I deeply regret the incident and apologize for allowing an argument to escalate to an altercation on my farm. I am disappointed in myself. I have deep respect for the men and women willing to work on farms across America, including mine," he said.
The sheriff's office said transparency and accountability are important for upholding the rights of everyone involved, and said it will provide updates as the case progresses.
Contributing: Carter Williams
