LOGAN — A Salt Lake City man is facing multiple felony charges, including aggravated kidnapping, after police say he choked a woman, threatened her with a knife, and fought with responding officers. Jacob Robert Rickabaugh, 43, was arrested Saturday night and booked into the Cache County Jail.
Rickabaugh was arraigned Monday afternoon in Logan’s 1st District Court, appearing by web conference from jail. He was charged with aggravated kidnapping and aggravated burglary, a first-degree felony; two counts of aggravated assault, a third-degree felony; and multiple misdemeanors, including property damage, interfering with a peace officer, unauthorized possession, public intoxication, and disorderly conduct.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Logan City police officers were dispatched to an apartment near 650 S. 100 East around 8:43 p.m. following reports of a domestic dispute. A caller reported being on the phone with the alleged victim when Rickabaugh reportedly began choking the woman and took her phone. The caller also noted the suspect threatened to go to her house and set it on fire. Additionally, upstairs neighbors called dispatch to report hearing the victim screaming at the Salt Lake man to get off of her.
When officers arrived, Rickabaugh allegedly answered the door and was immediately belligerent. The victim, visibly distraught in the background, mouthed to officers that the suspect had a knife and pointed to his concealed arm. Officers quickly moved to detain him, resulting in a physical altercation where Rickabaugh actively resisted and attempted to assault police. The victim later told police Rickabaugh was holding a knife and stated he intended to use it against law enforcement because he did not want to return to prison.
According to charging documents, the victim was attempting to break up with Rickabaugh, who had been staying with her since his recent release from prison. He allegedly became violent after discovering she used a dating website while he was incarcerated. Police say the suspect choked the woman with her sweatshirt hood, restricting her breathing and leaving visible red marks. He also held a knife near her, threatening to slit her ex-husband’s throat if she tried to leave the residence.
During the dispute, Rickabaugh allegedly stabbed the apartment wall and a television with a knife, and dumped the contents of kitchen drawers onto the floor.
Rickabaugh continued to physically resist and fight with Cache County Sheriff’s deputies and medical staff upon arriving at the jail. He was placed in an intake cell, where he loudly slammed his head and fists against the walls.
During Monday’s arraignment hearing, Cache County deputy attorney Aaron Jossie asked the court to hold Rickabaugh without bail. He noted how the suspect had an extensive criminal history in Utah and Pennsylvania, and could be a flight risk.
Rickabaugh told the court he had only been to Cache Valley two or three times. He claimed he had a place to live in Salt Lake.
Judge Angela Fonnesbeck assigned Rickabaugh a public defender. She ordered him to remain in jail and appear again in court April 6 for a bail hearing.
Individuals arrested and charged in complaints are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.