Police say man bound and threatened wife

WEST VALLEY CITY — West Valley police are asking for the public's help in finding a man who allegedly bound his wife with duct tape, put a knife to her throat and threatened to kill her.

The alleged incident happened Christmas Day near 3800 West and 3400 South. A 28-year-old man got into an argument with his common-law wife. She reportedly wanted to clean the apartment and he didn't want to, said West Valley Police Capt. Tom McLachlan.

That's when the man allegedly assaulted her, bound her with duct tape, put tape over her mouth and held a kitchen knife to her throat while saying he was going to cut her throat, McLachlan said.

McLachlan said there was a "high likelihood" that the man, who may have been intoxicated at the time, would have gone through with his threat if a cousin who also lived in the apartment had not stepped in after he heard the commotion.

Two small children were also in the room when the alleged assault happened. One was asleep but the other witnessed what happened, McLachlan said.

The woman suffered a minor injury to her hand.

Police said they are looking for Carlos Santa Cruz Salcedo, who they say was last seen driving away in a 1991 Mazda van with Utah license plate 524 VUB.

Anyone with information is asked to call West Valley police at 840-4000.