2 arrested in Millcreek kidnapping, robbery investigation

MILLCREEK — Two men have been arrested and accused of robbing and kidnapping a third man, allegedly because he sent messages to one of the assailants' girlfriend.

Wyatt Dean Hansen, 18, and James Waterman, 19, were both booked into the Salt Lake County Jail Tuesday for investigation of aggravated kidnapping and aggravated robbery.

On Saturday night, the 19-year-old victim went to a residence in Millcreek where several people had gathered. While at the residence, the victim and a woman — who was Waterman's girlfriend — started messaging each other on social media, a police booking affidavit states.

On Sunday, about 1:15 a.m., the woman sent the victim a message claiming she had broken up with Waterman and asked him to come back to the Millcreek residence, according to the affidavit.

The man arrived about 3:40 a.m. and was asked by the girlfriend if he could help move a woman who appeared to be sleeping on a couch. However, police say the woman "was just pretending to be passed out so he could come into the house where James and his friend Wyatt Hansen were waiting for him," the affidavit states.

After entering the residence, "James and Wyatt, jumped out of a closet located close to the front door. Wyatt had a hoodie and surgical mask on at the time. Wyatt had a gun under his clothing and made gestures with it to make sure (the victim) knew he had a firearm," according to the affidavit.

Both the front and back doors were either locked or guarded "so (the victim) could not escape." Waterman and Hansen then "demanded his phone and wallet" and Waterman "grabbed (the victim) from the hair and placed him on his knees" and "told (him) to beg for his life."

Waterman, who was armed with a knife, then confronted the victim about messaging his girlfriend "and told him to say he was 'sorry,'" according to the affidavit.

"James continued pointing the knife at (the victim's) throat/face area and telling him to 'beg for his life' as he was knelt down. (The victim) told (police) that he didn't know what he was supposed to be sorry for, but he would tell James that he was sorry," according to the affidavit.

When Hansen and Waterman told the victim they were going to destroy his phone, he claimed "it had a tracker and that the police would be notified if destroyed." The victim told police that's when "something clicked when he told James and Wyatt about the tracker in his phone. (He) was able to get up and ran out the front door," the affidavit states.

The victim said he hid in a neighboring yard for several minutes before contacting a friend to pick him up.

Hansen was arrested in Taylorsville on Tuesday. He "admitted to pretending to have a gun behind his back and standing in the back to prevent (the victim) from running out of the house" and claimed Waterman "gave his phone and wallet back and that James never took any money out."

The two women in the residence were not arrested. Unified police say the investigation into the incident is continuing.

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