Utah police officer accused of kidnapping, domestic violence

WEST JORDAN, Utah (AP) - A police officer for a Salt Lake City suburb was being held for lack of $250,000 cash bail Tuesday after being charged with crimes accusing him of assaulting two women, officials said.

James Harvie, 30, was put on administrative leave from the West Jordan Police Department after he was arrested on suspicion of multiple charges, including kidnapping and domestic violence. Formal charges were filed Monday in court, the department said in a statement.

A police affidavit said the investigation involved two of Harvie’s former girlfriends who claim the former U.S. Marine who lives in Saratoga Springs has an explosive temper and suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. Court records alleged he repeatedly threatened suicide and pointed guns at people and a dog while making threats.

It was not immediately clear Tuesday from jail records whether Harvie has a lawyer or will be appointed a public defender.

The Utah Fraternal Order of Police representing the state’s police officers issued a statement Tuesday warning against a rush to judgment in Harvie’s case.

“Given his long service to his country as both a combat veteran and a police officer, we ask the public to remain patient and reserve judgment until Officer Harvie has the opportunity to address the allegations in the appropriate venue,” the group said.

A Saratoga Springs police report said one woman reported last August that Harvie confronted other women with a gun, and was wearing a tactical vest while armed with a handgun and an AR-15 rifle pointed at her as he told her to get into a vehicle, The Daily Herald reported (https://tinyurl.com/homd4cj).

The woman told police she knew the gun was loaded and that she was afraid he would shoot her, her child and himself. The also woman said Harvie eventually calmed down, the police report said.

The woman told police Harvie hit her the following day and had also threatened to kill her dog, the report said.

A second alleged victim said that she tried to leave Harvie’s house in 2014 and he threatened to shoot her with a Taser, the police report said.

She never gave him her address, but he showed up at her house, the woman told police. Harvie also allegedly threatened to hurt her and kill her dog, the police report said.

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Information from: The Daily Herald, https://www.heraldextra.com