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WEST JORDAN — A third person has been arrested in connection with the beating and kidnapping of a man who made a daring escape after being tied up and stuffed in the trunk of a car.
Earlier this week, police arrested Corena Ann Wallace, 31, and booked her into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of aggravated kidnapping and aggravated robbery.
She is the third person to be arrested for an incident that police say happened on Feb. 27 at a West Jordan house. Also arrested in the incident have been 22-year-old Deshawn Demar Grant and 29-year-old Richard Hernandez — who has the moniker "Psycho Psycho." They have been charged in 3rd District Court with aggravated kidnapping, aggravated robbery, aggravated assault, theft and possession of a firearm by a restricted person.
The alleged victim, Howard Petersen, told police that Grant, Hernandez and an unknown woman came to his house in West Jordan and asked for a ride to West Valley City. On the way back to Petersen's home, "Hernadez became upset with Petersen for allegedly disrespecting" him, according to charging documents.
Grant would later tell investigators that Hernandez "called him out" and began to fight with Petersen.
The alleged victim Howard Petersen, told police that Grant, Hernandez and an unknown woman came to his house and asked for a ride to West Valley. On the way back, "Hernadez became upset with Petersen for allegedly disrespecting" him, according to charging documents.
At the West Jordan home, Petersen was taken to a bedroom, told to get on his knees, and was kicked in the head and stomach, and hit in the face and head with a handgun and rifle by Grant and Hernandez, according to court records.
"At this point, Hernandez and Grant bound Petersen's hands and feet with electrical cord and carried him out to Petersen's vehicle," court records state.
The group put Petersen in the trunk of his car and began to drive off.
"While in the trunk, Petersen was able to free himself from the electrical cord and open the trunk lid," according to charging documents.
Petersen jumped from the moving car, ran and hid as the vehicle drove away.
After police arrested Grant, he told them Petersen "probably does have road rash" as a result of his argument with Hernandez.
Grant later dropped off three duffel bags at another man's house and asked if he could keep them there, according to court documents. In one of them, police recovered the rifle believed to have been used in the kidnapping and beating of Petersen.
According to court records, Hernandez took a plea deal in November in a child sex abuse case, pleading guilty to one amended count of attempted aggravated sexual abuse of a child, a third-degree felony, in exchange for dismissing charges of aggravated sexual abuse of a child, object rape and forcible sexual abuse.
But on Jan. 30, Hernandez failed to show up for sentencing and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
In November 2010, Grant was sentenced to up to one year in the Utah State Prison for a conviction on possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person, according to court records. He also has convictions for assault causing serious bodily injury, burglary, and other felonies.
Email:preavy@ksl.com
