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MILLCREEK — A man who had been ordered to stay away from his ex-girlfriend held her hostage for three days, repeatedly beat her and threatened to kill her and her grandson, according to police.
Shawn Patrick Crawford, 34, was arrested for investigation of kidnapping, aggravated assault and witness tampering.
In August, Crawford was arrested for investigation of domestic violence against Deborah Hansen, his former girlfriend whom he lived with, according to court records. He was released from jail on condition that he not have contact with the victim.
On Aug. 19, he allegedly returned to her home, though. Crawford was subsequently charged in 3rd District Court with violating the conditions of his release, a third-degree felony.
Investigators said Crawford went back to Hansen's residence on Friday, forced his way inside and told her "not to go to the court hearing being held on March 5" regarding his charge, according to a Salt Lake County Jail report.
"Shawn told (Hansen) if she went to court he would kill her and her grandson," the report states.
Shawn told (the woman) if she went to court he would kill her and her grandson.
–Police report
Hansen told police Crawford knew where her grandson lived and believed he was capable of following through with his threat.
"I came home from Walmart and was coming through (the) door," Hansen said. "He came around the corner and forced his way in."
Hansen said Crawford beat her "severely," ransacked her home and punched a hole in the wall. She said he forced her to stay in the bedroom. She slept on the bed while he slept on a couch pushed up against the door, she said.
"I was not allowed to leave the room unless he said so," she said. "I'm hoarse because I was screaming. He wouldn't let me leave. I was screaming out the door to please, anybody, call the police."
At one point when she tried to open the front door, Crawford "shook her, threw her on the couch, sat on her, punched her on either side of the face in the jaw and punched her in the forehead," according to the report.
He also choked her to the point "she began to lose her vision," the report states.
"He assaulted her multiple times throughout the days," Unified Police Lt. Justin Hoyal said. "She didn't feel like she had any plan to leave."
Hansen said she came up with a plan to get away on Monday. While Crawford wasn't looking, she unlocked her sliding glass door in the back, and then suggested they walk down to the 7-Eleven for cigarettes.
He assaulted her multiple times throughout the days. She didn't feel like she had any plan to leave.
–Lt. Justin Hoyal, UPD
When they got to the store, and "when Shawn was distracted, she ran as fast as she could all the way home," the report states.
Crawford allegedly chased after her. She got inside her house through the sliding door and locked it just before Crawford got there, police said.
A neighbor who heard the couple arguing over the weekend said he saw Crawford yelling and pounding on the front door.
"He was just outside, saying, 'Open the door, open the door,' and then the police showed up," Marko Dzebo said.
Hansen said she hopes Crawford "gets the help he needs."
Crawford has an extensive criminal history, according to Utah state court records. In 1998 he was convicted of an amended misdemeanor charge of attempted forgery and put on probation. He was convicted of felony burglary in 1999 and sentenced up to five years at the Utah State Prison.
Crawford was sentenced to up to five years in prison again in 2001 for a felony burglary and misdemeanor theft conviction. In 2005, he was convicted of misdemeanor theft.
