LOGAN — A weeklong search for a Logan man accused of assaulting his partner and fleeing from law enforcement has ended with his arrest and booking into the Cache County Jail. Authorities noted that the suspect, Antonio Zarco-Orozco, was originally sought under the alias Benigno Queredo-Centreros.
According to a warrant affidavit, Logan City police officers were called to a residence July 13 after Zarco-Orozco began verbally abusing his partner of 10 years as she prepared for work. The argument turned physical when he allegedly pinned her wrists above her head and shoved her into a bookshelf.
The woman told police that Zarco-Orozco then placed her in a tight “bear hug” and pressed his forearm against her throat, choking her for 20 to 30 seconds. The assault occurred while the victim’s 17-year-old son and 20-year-old daughter were inside their nearby bedrooms.
Struggling to breathe, the victim shouted for her smartphone’s voice assistant, “Siri,” to dial 911. Although Zarco-Orozco initially snatched the device to cancel the emergency response, the victim successfully placed a second call while they argued. The suspect then fled the residence in the victim’s red Chevrolet Silverado without her permission. Police later noted visible red marks on the victim’s neck and back.
Cache County sheriff’s deputies and Utah Highway Patrol troopers quickly spotted the stolen truck. A trooper clocked Zarco-Orozco driving 107 mph westbound on Valley View Highway, State Route 30, though the extreme speed made an immediate pursuit unsafe. Shortly after, Zarco-Orozco collided with another vehicle at 3200 West SR 30 while executing an improper turn. Two occupants in that vehicle sustained minor injuries, but the suspect fled the scene northbound.
Authorities eventually discovered the abandoned truck near 2600 North and 4200 West. Witnesses and law enforcement spotted Zarco-Orozco running through open fields toward the Benson Marina while carrying what appeared to be a 20-gauge shotgun. Despite deploying a SWAT team and a police helicopter to establish a containment perimeter, authorities believe the suspect swam across the marina to an adjacent road and escaped.
The Cache County Sheriff’s Office had previously asked for the public’s help locating the suspect under the name Queredo-Centreros, which jail deputies later clarified was an alias.
According to court documents, Zarco-Orozco faces felonies for aggravated kidnapping, aggravated assault and domestic violence in the presence of a child. He also faces misdemeanors for reckless endangerment, reckless driving, interrupting a communication device and two counts of leaving an accident scene involving injuries. He is being held on a warrant pending an initial court appearance.
Individuals arrested and charged in complaints are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.