Police: Ogden man arrested after forcing woman to drive him to Provo mall

Brennen Reed Decker. Photo: Utah County

PROVO, Utah, May 25, 2019 (Gephardt Daily) — An Ogden man has been booked on felony kidnapping charges after police say he forced a woman to drive him to a mall in Provo, a distance of about 81 miles.

Brennen Reed Decker, 32, has been charged with kidnapping, a second-degree felony; and obstruction of justice, a class A misdemeanor.

Provo Police officials responded to the Provo Towne Center after a call from the victim, and Decker was arrested at 7:32 p.m. Thursday, a probable cause statement says.

“The victim stated that a male wearing black muddy pants, black hoodie, carrying a brown paper bag got inside her car and forced her to drive him to the mall,” a statement from a Provo Police officer says.

“We found the male walking away from the mall towards University Ave. I read the male his Miranda rights and stated he would talk to me.”

The suspect, later determined to be Decker, identified himself as Jack Dawson.

“Jack stated he got a ride from a friend,” the officer’s statement says. “I asked him who his friend was and he stated he did not want to tell me. I asked Jack why he got in a stranger’s car and he would not answer me. Every time I asked Jack a question he would not say anything. He refused to answer anymore questions.”

The officer also interviewed the woman who had called.

“The victim stated that she just got off work and a male was standing in front of her car. When she unlocked her front driver door, it automatically unlocks both the front doors.

“When the door unlocked the male got into her car. The victim told the male to get out of her car. The male refused to get out of the car and told the victim to drive him somewhere. The victim stated she was afraid that he would hurt her if she didn’t listen to him. The victim stated she did not know if he had a knife on him or other weapons.

“The victim also was afraid to call the police because she didn’t know what he would do to her if she made him mad.”

The officer looked up the suspect’s name, and was unable to find any records for “Jack Dawson.” Decker was arrested and taken to the Utah County Jail.

“When we got to the jail I asked the jail if we could fingerprint him because I am not able to find him in the systems,” the officer’s statement says. “The male then said his name was Brennen Decker.”

Decker had no identifying documents on him, but the officer confirmed the suspect’s identity by viewing an online driver licence.

A Provo District Judge determined that Decker should be held without bail due to possible danger to the community and the likelihood he would flee, a court order says.

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