SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, May 14, 2024 — A Sandy man was arrested for allegedly holding a woman and her three children against their will.
A third party notified Sandy police of the threat to the woman and the children, ages 6, 4 and 1, on Monday, according to charging documents for Alejandro Pineda, 28.
Police and Pineda’s federal probation officer, who had also been contacted by the woman, then went to Pineda’s Sandy apartment.
It was vacant, but a “Glock 26, subcompact with an extended magazine carrying 15 rounds” was located inside the apartment, which Pineda is banned from possessing per the terms of his probation.
It was learned Pineda and the victims were traveling in his silver 2014 Chevrolet Malibu, which was subsequently located at Hogle Zoo.
“The victim and the three children were also located at the zoo,” according to Pineda’s probable cause affidavit. “The suspect was taken into custody who was with one of the minors at the time of arrest.”
Under questioning after waiving his Miranda rights, Pineda admitted to having been warned away from the residence May 9 under threat of arrest for trespassing. He claimed, however, the woman had later called him and he spent the night at the apartment where the children were also present.
But the woman said Pineda grabbed a firearm located inside the apartment and “while holding the firearm to his head he threatened self harm and harm to the victim and the three children,” according to the court files.
He then drove the woman and the children to several locations across the Salt Lake Valley.
“Alejandro denied the allegations but admitted to holding the firearm in his hand,” the court documents claimed.
He was booked into jail on suspicion of four counts of aggravated kidnapping, all first-degree felonies, three misdemeanor counts of domestic violence in the presence of a child, and possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person, a second-degree felony.
On Tuesday morning, a 3rd District Judge ordered Pineda held without bail.
