OGDEN, Utah — A man faces a felony child kidnapping charge and a misdemeanor assault charge in connection with an incident Monday night.
According to a probable cause statement, two women told police that 22-year-old Bryce Watkins and one of the women were involved in an argument outside the Kwick Shop convenience store at 803 25th St.
The woman with whom Watkins argued then went inside the store to cash a check. Her daughter was in the back seat of a Jeep and the other woman was in the passenger seat.
Watkins is accused of getting into the driver's seat of the Jeep and driving to a nearby apartment complex. The woman who was trying to cash the check saw the Jeep driving away and ran after it, the statement said.
She caught up with the Jeep in the driveway of an apartment complex across the street, and later told police Watkins exited the vehicle and assaulted her.
"[She] fell to the ground near the back of the vehicle at which point Watkins proceeded to kick her in the head and the back," the statement said.
According to police, the woman suffered an injury that caused a visible swelling in her right temple.
An Ogden officer found Watkins at an Adult Probation and Parole office on Washington Blvd. on Wednesday. Watkins initially denied any involvement with the two women on Monday. The officer told Watkins there is surveillance footage of the incident. Watkins admitted to driving the Jeep, but denied seeing a child in the back seat and assaulting the woman, the statement said.
Police said Watkins has a violent criminal history and had begun probation less than 48 hours before the kidnapping and assault took place. On Wednesday, an Ogden District Court judge signed an order for Watkins to be held without bail.
