PROVO, Utah, May 23, 2018 (Gephardt Daily) — A Provo man was arrested Tuesday evening after police said he assaulted and threatened to kill his pregnant girlfriend.
Jeremy Rodriguez, 22, was arrested for aggravated kidnapping, aggravated assault, interference of a communication device and criminal mischief, the Provo Police Department said in a news release.
Provo police received a 911 hang-up call at approximately 5:25 p.m. Dispatchers could hear a woman crying, sounding as if she were in distress. They could hear the female speaking with someone in the background, but the phone call ended and police were unable to reach the caller again.
While officials were following up and investigating, Provo Police received a call from Springville Police Department in reference to the same female.
“A citizen in Springville called Springville Police about a female whom he observed running from a vehicle while screaming for help,” the news release said.
“The female in Springville was the same individual Provo Police were looking for in reference to the 911 hang-up in Provo.”
Provo Police responded to Springville and spoke with the victim.
“She advised her boyfriend, Jeremy Rodriguez, began arguing with her in Provo about her being pregnant,” the news release says. “She became frustrated and packed her things from the residence into her vehicle and got into the driver’s seat. Rodriguez reportedly got into the passenger seat as she drove from the home and they continued to argue.”
At some point, Rodriguez pulled the emergency brake causing the car to stop and began physical assaulting her, police said. The victim tried to escape from the vehicle and Rodriguez grabbed her and put his arm around her neck from behind, cutting off her airway.
She fought him until she was able to get away. During the struggle, Rodriguez damaged the inside of the vehicle.
“The victim fled from Rodriguez leaving her vehicle behind, so Rodriguez threw her phone at her,” the news release says. “She picked it up and called 911 but Rodriguez took the phone from her terminating the 911 call. Rodriguez got into the driver seat, caught up to the victim and convinced her to get back in and told her he would take her to her family.”
Once back in the vehicle, Rodriguez did not take her where he promised but instead he got on the highway, telling the victim he was going to take her to a field and kill her. The victim said she pleaded with Rodriguez to let her go, but he refused, so she again did everything she could physically to try to get Rodriguez to let her go.
Once off the freeway in Springville, Rodriguez slowed down to go to a gas station, and the woman ran from the vehicle, screaming for help, the statement says.
Police then observed Rodriguez return to his residence in the victim’s vehicle, and made contact. After speaking to the police, Rodriguez was arrested.
