Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Sam Penrod and Marc Giauque ReportingSalt Lake Police pulled a dangerous criminal off the streets. David Garnett now faces numerous charges ranging from kidnapping, rape and even trying to scam people telling them they'd be making a donation to the police department.
David Garnett was arrested after someone recognized the stolen car he was in. A police dog caught him hiding near the Jordan River.
40 year old David Garnett was first wanted for giving a 22-year old woman a ride from Springville to Salt Lake on Thursday, then taking her to a Salt Lake motel, where he is accused of raping her repeatedly.
The woman escaped from the man on Friday and contacted police. Officers then began looking for Garnett.
Strangely enough, he also became a suspect in a scam across the Wasatch Front, where he was trying to pretend to be a police officer seeking donations for the DARE program, something that does not even exist in Salt Lake City.
Det. Joe Cyr, Salt Lake City Police Department: "We've been receiving reports of him representing himself as a donation collector for the Salt Lake City police association, but he has never been associated with us. He collects funds and then gives a fraudulent receipt."
Investigators say that Garnett victimized at least half a dozen people who have donated 25 dollars or more in cash. However, they suspect many more people were victimized. They are asking for other victims to contact the Salt Lake City Police Department.
Garnett also claimed to be a bail bondsmen and that is how he was able to convince the woman to get in his car.
Garnett is said to be a habitual drug user. Now he is in jail, without bail, on charges of kidnapping, rape and drug possession.
