Wreck helps woman flee possible kidnapping

A woman is safe and her former boyfriend in the hospital following an alleged kidnapping Tuesday.

A 31-year-old man went to an apartment near 3800 South and 200 East about 1:45 p.m. The man's former girlfriend was visiting one of her friends, South Salt Lake police Capt. Tracy Tingey said.

The man, who reportedly had not been very nice to the 26-year-old woman in the past, was acting nice, so the former girlfriend allowed him to hug her goodbye, he said.

But as soon as the man hugged the girl, he wouldn't let go. He dragged her out the apartment and into his car, Tingey said.

While driving, the man allegedly made "veiled threats to kill (the woman)." Tingey said.

The woman struggled with the man as he drove down 3900 South. That, combined with heavy snow, may have caused the man to lose control of his vehicle, the officer said.

The man's car crashed into a pole at 3900 South and 130 East.

"That gave her enough time to jump from the vehicle to call police," Tingey said.

The man was still able to drive his car away after striking the pole. The woman ran to a nearby fast food restaurant where employees called police.

A couple of hours later, some friends of the man called police to tell them they had taken him to Pioneer Valley Hospital after he claimed he was beaten by a group of skinheads, Tingey said.

"He received some injuries. We're not sure how he got those injuries or the extent of them," Tingey said Tuesday afternoon.

An officer at the hospital was waiting to arrest the man after he was released. He was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of kidnapping, assault and threats.

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