MIDWAY, Utah-The Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office reports a domestic violence victim is safe in Midway after writing “911” on her hand and showing it to a locksmith who had come to her home.
The man accused of holding her hostage has since been arrested.
The Sheriff’s Office reports 45-year-old Grant Eggersten of West Jordan used a key he had to get into the woman’s home October 1.
He then took her cell phone and refused to let her leave her room.
Eggersten has been accused of attempting to assault her as well as threatening to burn her house down.
Deputies say the woman had asked Eggertsen to leave her home several times but he refused.
A locksmith was then called the next day to change the lock on the front door.
Per an affidavit from the Sheriff’s Office, a woman showed a 911 message written on her hand to the locksmith.
The locksmith told deputies a man had stayed close to the woman while he was in the home.
She had also asked him for her phone so she could pay.
When a deputy came to the home to investigate, the victim “quickly opened the door” and confirmed Eggersten was in the home.
The deputy confirmed he also saw the woman’s 911 message on her hand.
Eggertsen has been charged with aggravated kidnapping in the course of committing unlawful detention. This is a third-degree felony. Eggertsen also faces charges of criminal trespassing of a dwelling and simple assault, each of which are misdemeanors.
