2 women held in assault, kidnapping

WEST VALLEY CITY — Two women who police say kidnapped one of their friends and tried to get her to confess to a crime that happened earlier this month, were arrested over the weekend.

Rosmarie Coyt, 21, and Lilibeth Yi, 21, were booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of kidnapping and aggravated assault. They are accused of going to a friend's house sometime Saturday night or Sunday morning, forcibly removing one of their friends from her car, forcing her into their own car and driving to another house, said West Valley Police Capt. Tom McLachlan.

Police believe that on the way to the house, the women beat their victim with a Club, an anti-theft device that is attached to steering wheels, he said.

Once they reached the house, near 3300 South and 6000 West, the women got into a struggle on the front porch as the alleged abductors tried to get the other woman to confess to a burglary that had happened at the house earlier in the month, McLachlan said.

The struggle included a lot of yelling and screaming. The homeowners heard the commotion and called police about 7:30 a.m. Sunday.

Coyt and Yi were arrested. Upon further investigation, detectives found items taken in the burglary, including electronics and jewelry, at Coyt's apartment, which she shares with her boyfriend, near 1300 West and 3900 South.

— Pat Reavy