SALT LAKE CITY — Police arrested a Salt Lake man who they say sexually assaulted a lesbian woman, telling her he would “fix the gay.”
Salt Lake police on Thursday said the case is being investigated as a possible hate crime.
Adam Quinn Atwood, 34, was arrested Wednesday for investigation of object rape, forcible sodomy, kidnapping, aggravated sexual assault and forcible sexual abuse.
A woman, who told police she is gay, went to visit her friend in Salt Lake City on Sunday night. The friend’s husband, Atwood, was also there. At some point during the night, the friend fell asleep and Atwood and the woman continued talking.
“(The woman) stated the suspect began touching and grabbing her,” according to a police affidavit.
Atwood then sexually assaulted the woman, police say. The woman told Atwood “no” and told him to stop, the affidavit states. Atwood allegedly responded by asking her “if she was sure she didn’t like it” and “if she was sure she was gay.”
As the woman attempted to leave the house, Atwood “grabbed her by the back of the neck and forced her back into the house,” the affidavit states, and then took the woman to the basement where he choked her and again sexually assault her.
The woman said she kept telling Atwood she doesn’t like guys in an attempt to get him to stop. She said Atwood “told her he was going to fix the gay,” according to the affidavit.
After more physical and sexual abuse, the woman was able to make a run for the staircase and out to her car.
“(She) stated she made it to her vehicle and as she locked the doors the suspect ran up to the car and yelled, ‘You better not tell anyone,’” police wrote.
Officers noted that the woman had injuries that corroborated her story.
“The victim submitted to a sexual assault examination which documented several injuries that are consistent with the victim statements,” the affidavit says.
When arrested, Atwood stated, “I did not rape anyone,” according to police.