Latest news with #DominicGarcia
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Yahoo
APD arrests 2 men accused of trading guns and drugs for bait car
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The Albuquerque Police Department arrested two people following a successful undercover operation that took a surprising twist. Police said the suspects traded guns and drugs for an APD bait car, only to get arrested minutes later when officers disabled the car's engine. Man hired to shoot New Mexico lawmakers' homes sentenced to 15 years in prison According to police, 30-year-old Johnathan Hedgecock and 25-year-old Dominic Garcia thought they were trading cash and a stolen car for more drugs and guns. Instead, they got arrested on multiple felony charges. The takedown led to the seizure of 300 fentanyl pills, three Guns, meth, heroin, cocaine, and a stolen car. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Yahoo
Utah man allegedly used phony cartel threats to hold pregnant girlfriend and family hostage for months: report
A Utah man is accused of holding his pregnant girlfriend and her family hostage in their home for six months under the lie that "cartel" members were pursuing them. Dominic Garcia, 23, was arrested Saturday and booked on 28 charges, most of them felonies. Among them were seven each of kidnapping and assault, according to The Associated Press. Six Ohio Suspects Accused Of Torturing Man In Weeklong Hotel Kidnapping: 'Extremely Disturbing' The situation reportedly began when one of the alleged captives called the police, claiming they were being held against their will and that they "weren't able to take it any longer," according to KSTU, a Salt Lake City-based FOX affiliate. Upon arriving at the home, police found the family holding Garcia at gunpoint, and he was promptly taken into custody. Garcia reportedly moved in with the family in December. Shortly afterward, he allegedly claimed his own family had ties to a cartel, and that his new housemates had to do as he told them to remain in the cartel's good graces. Read On The Fox News App "Over time, Garcia created an atmosphere of fear and control, falsely creating affiliations with a dangerous cartel," said Sgt. Aymee Race of the Unified Police Department of Greater Salt Lake. Utah Cold Case Solved 40 Years After 18-Year-old Woman's Murder Thanks To Dna Sample, Police Say "He claimed 'his people' were watching and any defiance could result in their deaths," she continued. Garcia reportedly began carrying a handgun around the house, repeatedly telling family members that the cartel would kill them if they did not do as he told them. Garcia is also accused of forcing his alleged victims out of the home for a month under the pretense that his family had made a bad deal with the cartel and needed to flee. Upon their return, a family member texted a friend to explain where they had gone, KSTU reports. Upon seeing the text, Garcia allegedly lashed out, later claiming he'd brought one of the hostages "into the company" and that he'd kill them if they went astray. Family members also accuse Garcia of checking their phones and confronting them over messages he didn't approve of and limiting who could leave the home and for how long. He is also said to have run a "boot camp"-like operation that entailed working out five times a day, taking ice baths and facial submersion to the point where family members were left unable to breathe. Garcia, who as of Monday was being held without bail, "said that he continued this lie for several months because he did not know how to stop it in fear that they would not like him," the police affidavit reads. Sgt. Race declined to provide any additional comment on the case when reached by Fox News Digital. The Associated Press and KSTU contributed to this article source: Utah man allegedly used phony cartel threats to hold pregnant girlfriend and family hostage for months: report
Fox News
21-05-2025
- Fox News
Utah man allegedly used phony cartel threats to hold pregnant girlfriend and family hostage for months: report
A Utah man is accused of holding his pregnant girlfriend and her family hostage in their home for six months under the lie that "cartel" members were pursuing them. Dominic Garcia, 23, was arrested Saturday and booked on 28 charges, most of them felonies. Among them were seven each of kidnapping and assault, according to The Associated Press. The situation reportedly began when one of the alleged captives called the police, claiming they were being held against their will and that they "weren't able to take it any longer," according to KSTU, a Salt Lake City-based FOX affiliate. Upon arriving at the home, police found the family holding Garcia at gunpoint, and he was promptly taken into custody. Garcia reportedly moved in with the family in December. Shortly afterward, he allegedly claimed his own family had ties to a cartel, and that his new housemates had to do as he told them to remain in the cartel's good graces. "Over time, Garcia created an atmosphere of fear and control, falsely creating affiliations with a dangerous cartel," said Sgt. Aymee Race of the Unified Police Department of Greater Salt Lake. "He claimed 'his people' were watching and any defiance could result in their deaths," she continued. Garcia reportedly began carrying a handgun around the house, repeatedly telling family members that the cartel would kill them if they did not do as he told them. Garcia is also accused of forcing his alleged victims out of the home for a month under the pretense that his family had made a bad deal with the cartel and needed to flee. Upon their return, a family member texted a friend to explain where they had gone, KSTU reports. Upon seeing the text, Garcia allegedly lashed out, later claiming he'd brought one of the hostages "into the company" and that he'd kill them if they went astray. Family members also accuse Garcia of checking their phones and confronting them over messages he didn't approve of and limiting who could leave the home and for how long. He is also said to have run a "boot camp"-like operation that entailed working out five times a day, taking ice baths and facial submersion to the point where family members were left unable to breathe. Garcia, who as of Monday was being held without bail, "said that he continued this lie for several months because he did not know how to stop it in fear that they would not like him," the police affidavit reads. Sgt. Race declined to provide any additional comment on the case when reached by Fox News Digital.
CBS News
20-05-2025
- CBS News
Utah man kidnaps girlfriend's family for 6 months, claiming cartel wanted to kill them, police say
A Utah man accused of holding his girlfriend and her family in their home for six months on a lie that "cartel" members were after them has been arrested, authorities said. Dominic Christopher Garcia, 23, faces 28 counts, including seven each of kidnapping and assault, after his arrest Saturday. He remained held Monday without bail in the Salt Lake County jail, CBS affiliate KUTV reported. He allegedly told police he lied to the family about needing to protect them from a nonexistent "cartel," according to the police affidavit. "Dominic said that he continued this lie for several months because he did not know how to stop it in fear that they would not like him," the affidavit reads. He had no attorney listed to speak on his behalf. Garcia moved in with the family of seven in the Salt Lake City suburb of Millcreek in December. Soon after, he allegedly told them his own family had business ties to a cartel and the family needed to protect themselves. Garcia allegedly began carrying a handgun and repeatedly told family members the cartel would kill them if they did not do as he told. Garcia would allegedly rack the 10mm handgun, remove the magazine and point it at family members "as a game," KUTV reported. A man was arrested after convincing his girlfriend and her family that he was involved with a cartel and that its members were out to kill them, ultimately holding them hostage for six months. He later told police he had made the entire story up. — KUTV2news (@KUTV2News) May 18, 2025 Other family members allegedly told police Garcia, at times, kept them from leaving the house for more than short periods. Police went to the house after getting a call from someone inside, according to the affidavit. "The complainant reported they weren't able to take it any longer, and they were holding Dominic at gunpoint until police arrived," the affidavit states. "Officers arrived and took Dominic into custody without incident." According to arrest documents, family members said that Garcia had returned home several times covered in blood, claiming he had been out doing business, KUTV reported. At one point, Garcia allegedly forced his pregnant girlfriend's sister into a four-week "boot camp," where she was forced to work out five times a day, take ice baths and submerge her face in ice water so she wouldn't "feel the pain" when cartel members beat her, KUTV reported, citing arrest documents. Garcia also allegedly threatened the girl's father, saying he would have to kill him if he "stepped out of line," the station reported, citing the police affidavit.
Washington Post
19-05-2025
- Washington Post
Utah man kidnaps family for 6 months, lying they needed protection from 'cartel,' police say
SALT LAKE CITY — A Utah man accused of holding his girlfriend and her family in their home for six months on a lie that 'cartel' members were after them has been arrested. Dominic Garcia, 23, faces 28 counts, including seven each of kidnapping and assault, after his arrest Saturday. He remained held Monday in the Salt Lake County jail, NBC News reported.
