Man arrested in kidnapping, threats

MAGNA — A man who police say kidnapped his pregnant girlfriend and threatened to take her to Saltair and kill her has been arrested and booked into jail.

The woman, 30, escaped her ordeal by jumping out of a slow-moving vehicle, said Salt Lake County Sheriff's Lt. Don Hutson.

The incident began about 2 p.m. Tuesday in front of the woman's Magna house. A man, 27, pulled up in front of the woman's home and called to her to get in his car, Hutson said. The woman is three months pregnant and initially refused, but the man persisted.

Once the woman got into the vehicle, however, the man sped away. The woman protested and told him to stop. The man, however, punched her in the face and told her he was going to take her to Saltair and kill her, Hutson said.

As the man approached state Route 201, he slowed for a stop sign near 9100 West and the woman jumped out of the car. A nearby motorist saw what was happening and helped the woman, Hutson said. The boyfriend took off. The woman was treated for minor scrapes and bruises and taken to the hospital to have the unborn baby checked as a precaution.

Later that afternoon, investigators went to the man's South Jordan home and mad an arrest.

Benjamin Wareing was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of assault and unlawful detention.

— Pat Reavy