Seven children were held hostage in a St. George hotel room, police say

ST. GEORGE — Seven children are safe after police say their father held the kids hostage in a hotel room.

The St. George Police Department said in a Facebook post that it responded to a domestic violence incident at the Quality Inn hotel at 11 p.m. on Saturday. When police arrived, they discovered a man and a woman were in a physical fight.

According to the police affidavit, the woman was outside of the hotel room when police officers arrived. She told police that Jonathan Dayzie, 39, was drinking all day and intoxicated when the fight happened.

Police said Dayzie was able to get inside a hotel room and barricade the door after the fight. Officers said the seven children were inside the hotel room, and Dayzie refused to talk with police.

“It was determined that an aggravated assault, kidnapping, and several other charges occurred between a female and Jonathan,” police said in a news release. “Jonathan was also actively holding their seven children against their will in the whole hotel room and had threatened to hurt their children as well during the incident.”

According to the police affidavit, a pocket knife, a machete, and a kitchen knife were inside the hotel room with Dayzie and the children.

A SWAT team was called in to help aid in the situation, according to the news release.

“Jonathan would not surrender and SWAT made an energetic breach and gained access to the hotel room,” police said.

Additionally, all people involved in the incident were reported to be seen by medical personnel and no injuries were reported. The seven children were released to their mother, who police say was the woman who was in a physical fight with Dayzie.

Police said Dayzie was taken to a hospital and then transported to jail where he was charged with “aggravated assault X2, kidnapping, unlawful detention, DV presence of children X7, disorderly, child abuse X7, obstruction, interfering and intoxication.”

This story is developing and may be updated as officials provide more information.

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Domestic violence resources

If you or someone you know is going through abuse, help is available.

• The Utah Domestic Violence Coalition operates a confidential statewide, 24-hour domestic abuse hotline at 1-800-897-LINK (5465).
• Resources are also available online at the Utah Domestic Violence Coalition website.
• YWCA Women in Jeopardy program: 801-537-8600
• Utah’s statewide child abuse and neglect hotline: 1-855-323-DCFS (3237)

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233

Child abuse resources:

• Utah Domestic Violence Coalition operates a confidential statewide, 24-hour domestic abuse hotline at 1-800-897-LINK (5465). Resources are also available online: udvc.org. The statewide child abuse and neglect hotline is 1-855-323-DCFS (3237).

Help with Children

Those who feel stressed out with a child, who need a break or who feel like they need counseling or training can reach out to one of the following agencies:

• The Family Support Center has 15 locations throughout the state and offers a free crisis nursery for parents who have to keep appointments or who are stressed out. They also offer counseling and family mentoring. Call 801-955-9110 or visit familysupportcenter.org/contact.php for more information.
• Prevent Child Abuse Utah provides home visiting in Weber, Davis, and Box Elder counties. Parent Educators provide support, education, and activities for families with young children. Their statewide education team offers diverse trainings on protective factors, digital safety, bullying, and child sex trafficking. They are available for in-person or virtual trainings and offer free online courses for the community at pcautah.org.
• The Office of Home Visiting works with local agencies to provide home visits to pregnant women and young families who would like to know more about being parents. Home visitors are trained and can provide information about breastfeeding, developmental milestones, toilet training, nutrition, mental health, home safety, child development, and much more. Find out more at homevisiting.utah.gov.

The Safe Haven law allows birth parents in Utah to safely and anonymously give up custody of their newborn child at any hospital in the state, with no legal consequences and no questions asked. The child’s mother can drop off the child, or the mother can ask someone else to do it for her. The newborns should be dropped off at hospitals that are open 24 hours a day. Newborns given up in this manner will be cared for by the hospital staff, and the Utah Division of Child and Family Services will find a home for the child. For more information, visit utahsafehaven.org or call the 24-hour hotline at 866-458-0058.