MILLCREEK, Utah -- A Salt Lake County Man allegedly kidnapped his ex-girlfriend and held her for three days in her Millcreek home before she managed to escape; during that time he beat her and threatened her life to keep her from testifying against him in court.
Police arrested 34-year-old Shawn Crawford on domestic violence charges in August of 2012. When he was released from jail he was told not to contact his ex-girlfriend.
Lt. Justin Hoyal, Unified Police Department, said Crawford violated that order on Friday, and that’s when things turned violent.
"He came and forced his way into the house with her as she was entering the home and then basically held her there throughout the weekend,” Hoyal said. “Throughout the weekend he assaulted her, he strangled her and then threatened her throughout the weekend that he'd kill her if she tried to leave."
According to a probable cause statement, Crawford told the victim not to go to the court hearing scheduled for March 5 regarding his jail release agreement. Crawford told the victim he would kill her and her grandson if she did not comply, according to the same document.
The victim managed to convince Crawford to go with her to a nearby 7-11 for cigarettes on Monday. When he was distracted at the store, she rushed back inside and locked the door before calling police for help. When police responded to the call Crawford was not at the home, but they found and arrested him at a nearby location.
Crawford was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on charges of kidnapping, witness tampering and aggravated assault.
