Source: ABC 4, Salt Lake City, UT

Last Update: Jun 13, 2007 10:40 PM

Police are calling it a preemptive strike. They’ve arrested 20-year-old Kidus Yohannes after a roommate noticed his strange habits.

“He wasn’t normal, very quiet, very stone faced,” said his roommate Sam Westfahl.

Yohannes is Ethiopian, speaks Arabic and is a Muslim. But police said he also has a habit of collecting guns illegally and making threats.

“Every police officer that dealt with this person felt like there was something wrong here,” said Orem police Lt. Doug Edwards.

It was Westfahl who tipped police.

Westfahl claimed Yohannes had a habit of playing violent video games, surfing terrorist linked web sites and watching violent movies.

“We never tried to talk to him because he was not approachable.” Said Westfahl.

But when Yohannes played violent video games it got Westfahl’s attention. He said Yohannes constantly threatened the lives of police during those episodes.

“He would play games and make under his breath threats that concerned me even more,” Westfahl said.

Westfahl called police and on Friday they came to the house with a search warrant.

“We don’t want to wait to see if this becomes another Trolley Square or Virginia Tech,” said Lt. Edwards.

Police found two rifles in his car. They also found a clip with AK-47 ammo.

Police soon learned he purchased three AK-47-type weapons. He’s now accused of lying on the application.

The owner sold him the weapons and claims the application got by the state.

“They checked the alien number and found it to be satisfactory,” said gun shop owner Norman Van Waggenen.

Police also learned Yohannes had an extensive criminal history of carrying weapons illegally, once on school property.

But in plea bargains, weapons charges were dismissed in favor of other crimes he committed.

Just what his motives are remain unknown. Police say they found no plans to commit violent acts.

“There was nothing found that raises the alarm,” said Lt. Edwards.

Still Yohannes roommate feels he did the right thing in calling police.

“He acted very much like the Virginia Tech shooter, almost identical and that really concerned us,” Westfahl said.

Utah County prosecutors will screen this latest case against Yohannes. Police booked him on falsifying a gun application and stealing his roommate’s credit card.