"Utah Man Arrested for Allegedly Holding Girlfriend and Family Captive, Claiming Cartel Threats"

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"Utah Man Arrested for Allegedly Holding Girlfriend and Family Captive, Claiming Cartel Threats"

[!CDATA[A man from Utah was taken into custody by the police for allegedly holding his girlfriend and her family captive for six months, claiming that they were being targeted by "the cartel." The 23-year-old suspect, Dominic Garcia, faces multiple charges, including aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, threat of violence, and hazing with a dangerous weapon. The incident came to light when the family called 911, reporting that they were being held against their will by Garcia at their home in Millcreek, near Salt Lake City. Upon arriving at the scene, the police found Garcia being held at gunpoint by the family members, who were unable to endure the situation any longer. The family recounted their ordeal to the authorities, revealing that Garcia had moved in with them in December 2024 and had immediately claimed ties to the cartel. He allegedly threatened the family, saying that they needed to follow his orders to avoid repercussions from the cartel, including death threats. Garcia's control over the family escalated when he forced them to move to a different house for a month after claiming that his grandfather's business had made a mistake. When one family member disobeyed Garcia's orders and sent a text message, he threatened to kill them all. Additionally, he subjected another family member to a rigorous "boot camp" regime, which included intense workouts, ice baths, and suffocation exercises. The family members were restricted from leaving the house for extended periods due to Garcia's threats and rules, such as limiting outside time to two hours per person. One family member missed a month of their senior year of high school and feared for their life. Garcia's pregnant girlfriend also reported repeated threats made by him towards her and her family. Despite being questioned by the police, Garcia claimed he could not stop the cartel lie out of fear of repercussions. The family members expressed concerns about Garcia's potential release, believing that he poses a threat to their safety and that of the girlfriend's family. They stated that Garcia had access to handguns and had threatened to use them to harm or kill them. As of the latest update, there is no defense attorney listed for Garcia in court records.]]