Utah mayor spat on during confrontation with reporter’s daughter

The adult daughter of a local reporter allegedly spat on the mayor of Orem, Utah, following remarks he made about the reporter during a City Council meeting. 

Video shows Linnea Pugmire, 31, spitting on and swinging at Orem Mayor David Young on Tuesday night. “How dare you,” she said multiple times. She was arrested by local police later that evening. 

Linnea Pugmire’s mother, Genelle Pugmire, is a reporter for The Daily Herald. Young has issues with the newspaper’s reporting and headlines. He addressed the articles in a City Council meeting on Tuesday and said the articles were “extremely off the rails.”

“I’ve been told by, you know, public relations type folks that I probably shouldn’t go down this path, but it’s gotten to a point to where it’s overly ridiculous,” Young said. 

Young printed out several of the articles he took issue with and held them up. “I wouldn’t make a big deal about this except it just keeps happening and happening,” he added. 

After the meeting, Linnea Pugmire approached Young and a group of several other people, where the conversation escalated. Fox31 in Salt Lake City obtained a copy of the video that shows Linnea Pugmire allegedly spitting on and swinging at Young and a group of others. The video shows Young appearing to push her away. 

“You don’t even know who I am, do you,” Linnea Pugmire asked him. Young said he had no idea who she was. 

“I’m sick of being pushed around by your mother,” Young said shortly after. “I recognize you. You’re disgusting.”

Young added that he would see Genelle Pugmire in court.