LOGAN — A 31-year-old Hyrum man was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of felony aggravated kidnapping and child abuse after allegedly shoving a woman holding a toddler and trapping them inside a room, according to law enforcement.
Parker Richard Thayer was booked into the Cache County Jail on Sept. 30 after a joint investigation by the Cache County Sheriff’s Office and the Division of Child and Family Services.
Thayer made an initial appearance Friday in Logan’s 1st District Court via web conference from jail. He was charged with aggravated kidnapping, a first-degree felony; assault with substantial bodily injury, a class A misdemeanor; and child abuse and domestic violence in the presence of a child, both class B misdemeanors.
According to an affidavit of probable cause, deputies interviewed the victim during a home visit regarding an incident that occurred Sept. 19. The woman reported that Thayer began yelling at her while she was holding their 1-year-old child.
When the woman attempted to walk past Thayer to leave the room, he shoved her to the floor, according to court documents. The fall caused her to hit her head and left a large bruise on her thigh. The force of the push also caused the toddler’s head to collide with the woman’s head and potentially strike the ground. Investigating deputies noted that the child still had a visible bruise on their forehead during the Sept. 30 interview.
After the assault, Thayer stood in front of the door, shouting at the woman and preventing her from leaving with the child until he calmed down, police said. He was later taken into custody at his residence without incident.
During Friday’s court hearing, Judge Spencer Walsh ordered Thayer to have no contact with the victim. Walsh also ordered Thayer to remain in jail on a temporary no-bail hold and scheduled his next court appearance for Oct. 5.
Individuals arrested and charged in complaints are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.