WEST WENDOVER, Nev., May 22, 2019 (Gephardt Daily) — A man has been arrested in West Wendover, Nevada, on attempted murder charges after what began as a domestic abuse call from Wendover, Utah.
Ivan Abarca, 33, was booked into the Elko County Jail on multiple felony charges, a statement from the West Wendover Police Department says.
Wendover officers responded to a report of domestic violence on May 15, the statement says, “However, the persons involved were mobile, and traveled into West Wendover, Nevada.”
Witness descriptions led police to Abarca, who was known to them from previous incidents. They responded to the suspect’s last known residence.
“Upon arrival, the officers could hear sounds and voices coming from within the residence that lead them to believe a female was being threatened and restrained,” the WWPD statement says. “The officers contacted Abarca and a female inside. During interviews Abarca denied physically injuring the female. He claimed that her injuries were self-inflicted.”
Before being transported to a Salt Lake City hospital, the woman gave a brief interview.
“Abarca was initially arrested and booked for suspicion of domestic battery,” the police statement says.
“After the victim was released from the hospital, she was able to provide more information. After interviews, Arbaca was believed to have taken the female from her residence in Utah, by use of force, and transported to the residence in West Wendover, Nevada.”
Abraca refused to allow the victim to leave, and accused her of cheating on him, the statement says.
“Abarca allegedly held the victim against her will while striking her with ‘weights,’ holding her by her neck and trying to force her to jump out of a window on the second floor of the residence,” the WWPD statement says.
“With this new information corroborated by what the officers witnessed on scene, the original domestic violence charge was upgraded to attempted murder, battery with a weapon causing substantial bodily harm and kidnapping.”
Abarca is in jail awaiting a court appearance, the statement say
