KEARNS, Utah, Sept. 2, 2019 (Gephardt Daily) — A Salt Lake County man is facing a kidnapping charge after he allegedly held his ex-girlfriend hostage for five days.
A probable cause statement from the 3rd District Court of Salt Lake County said Oscar Martinez-Perez, 42, is facing a charge of aggravated kidnapping, a first-degree felony.
Martinez-Perez was arrested Friday and transported to the Salt Lake County Jail with his bail set at $25,000.
Officers took report of a welfare check Thursday, the probable cause statement said.
“The complainant requested officers check on his sister, the victim, who was being held against her will somewhere in Kearns,” the statement said. “Through the complainant, the officer located the victim on the street near Colter Circle. The victim spoke only Spanish, so through translation from her brother, she stated she was kidnapped by her ex-boyfriend, Oscar Martinez-Perez.”
The complainant further explained she was forced into a vehicle by Martinez-Perez in Utah County. She stated Martinez-Perez threatened her with a handgun and said he would kill her if she left.
“When at Oscar’s basement apartment in Kearns, the victim stated he would not let her leave,” the statement said. “The victim stated she was taken to Oscar’s apartment on Sunday, Aug. 25, and did not have a chance to escape until Thursday, Aug. 29. Further interview of the victim through translation led to the information Oscar had committed domestic violence in the past, mainly in Utah County.”
The victim gave officials the address Martinez-Perez lived at and also stated he was driving a white Chevrolet single-cab truck, registered to her.
“On Friday, while trying to identify and locate Oscar, officers located a white truck as described parked in the circle of the address given,” the statement said. “A knock-and-talk was conducted at the residence and the upstairs tenants stated there was no one by the name of Oscar living upstairs but the downstairs tenant was named Oscar.”
Officers knocked on the basement entrance door three times before hearing a side window opening, the statement said. When lights were shined on the window, a Hispanic male was observed trying to climb out the window. The man was told to come to the door. He then came to the door and was cooperative, officials said.
The man was asked for his name and confirmed he was Martinez-Perez. When asked if he had a girlfriend, he said he did and gave the name that matched the victim. Martinez-Perez was then arrested for the kidnapping charge, and booked on the charge as well as warrants.
Martinez-Perez had a full-extradition warrant from Utah County for aggravated kidnapping, a first-degree felony and aggravated assault, a third-degree felony.
