Estimated read time: 2-3 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 Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information.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.
LOGAN — A Logan police officer has been placed on leave while he's investigated for domestic violence.
Michael Ryan Montoya, 31, was arrested on Aug. 18 for investigation of unlawful detention and four counts of assault. He's also being investigated for assault with substantial bodily injury.
Logan Police Chief Gary Jensen said Montoya is a police officer with the department and Jensen himself placed Montoya on unpaid leave.
"There is a presumption of innocence until he goes through the process, the criminal process," the chief said.
A woman reported multiple instances of domestic violence to police on July 18.
In an incident two months earlier, the woman told police that she and Montoya were arguing in their Wellsville home when Montoya "plowed (her) over using his chest and bodyweight to hit her," according to a police booking affidavit. The woman fell backward, she said, and hit her head on the wall.
She and Montoya later discussed what happened over text, the woman told police. She said she texted Montoya that she had a headache but didn't dare seek medical attention. Montoya asked her what she'd say when she sought medical help, saying that if she told doctors she was knocked down during an argument, they'd have to report it to law enforcement, the affidavit alleges.
In the messages, Montoya admitted to making contact with the woman, according to the affidavit, but in a text message said he didn't intentionally knock her down and wanted to walk away.
The woman told police that she ultimately didn't seek medical attention despite experiencing physical symptoms. "These symptoms have been reviewed by medical professionals (who) came to the conclusion that the symptoms are consistent with having a concussion," the affidavit states.
In another instance, the woman told police she and Montoya were arguing in the kitchen when he pinned her against the wall with his weight and chest for several minutes and yelled at her, according to the affidavit.
Police also interviewed a minor child who told them that Montoya and the woman have argued much more since moving to Cache Valley in early 2021, according to the arrest report. The child also described another incident to police in which the woman went into the bathroom crying and Montoya told her if she didn't open the door, he'd knock it down, police say.
"It is unclear how the door was opened," the affidavit states. "(The child) then talked about how (Montoya) pushed (the woman) out of the way, shoving her during the altercation."
Domestic violence resources
Help for people in abusive relationships can be found by contacting:
- Utah Domestic Violence Coalition: Utah's confidential statewide, 24-hour domestic violence hotline at 1-800-897-LINK (5465)
- YWCA Women in Jeopardy program: 801-537-8600
- Utah's statewide child abuse and neglect hotline: 1-855-323-DCFS (3237)
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233
