LOGAN — A 23-year-old man was arrested following a family dispute Saturday in Wellsville, according to law enforcement. Austin Tayvan Long was booked into the Cache County Jail and later charged with multiple felonies and misdemeanors.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, 911 dispatch operators received a call from a 16-year-old girl, claiming Long had assaulted her and damaged property in their home. She explained how her brother had tackled her, choke slammed her, and damaged a television and other personal property.
As Cache County Sheriff’s deputies were responding, the dispatch operator reported hearing the alleged victim yelling as Long chased her around the house. They also heard the girl screaming in pain as the suspect took the phone from her.
The alleged victim was able to run outside to a Utah Highway Patrol trooper who had responded to assist deputies. She had numerous fresh wounds on her body, including cuts and lacerations, red marks on her neck, and bruises on her back, according to arrest paperwork.
The girl told deputies, Long was not helping with chores and she took his vape to try and motivate him to assist. She described how he became angry, and began assaulting and choking her.
Deputies questioned Long, who seemed annoyed with the investigation. He claimed that he had asked his sister for help with chores and she refused, resulting in an altercation, the court paperwork detailed.
Long was placed under arrest and transported to jail, where deputies found a cylindrical container in his front pants pocket. He claimed the container was for lip balm but it later tested positive for THC, according to deputies.
Long was arraigned during a virtual hearing Monday afternoon in Logan’s 1st District Court, appearing by web conference from jail. He was charged with aggravated kidnapping, a first-degree felony; aggravated child abuse, a second-degree felony; aggravated assault, a third-degree felony; and misdemeanors for interrupting a communication device, possession of a controlled substance within a correctional facility, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Judge Spencer Walsh said Long poses a danger to the alleged victim. He ordered the suspect to be held in jail without bail and appear again in court June 2.
Individuals arrested and charged in complaints are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.