US Marshals and local law enforcement detain kidnapping suspect in Summit County, 2 children in State custody

A Summit County Sheriff vehicle. Photo: TownLift // Rayne Moynahan

SUMMIT COUNTY, Utah – Two children are now under state protective custody following the arrest of a kidnapping suspect in Silver Creek Village on Saturday, May 4th, by federal officers.

The U.S. Marshals Service led the response to an ongoing child abduction investigation, which came to a close in Summit County. Summit County deputies promptly arrived to secure two children who were present in the parking lot at the time of the arrest.

Gabriel Omar Gigena, a 40-year-old California resident, was apprehended on charges including kidnapping of a minor, parental deprivation of child custody, and child abduction.

Mark Thomson, a public information officer with the U.S. Marshals Service, stated that investigators believe Gigena fled California on April 29th. A warrant for his arrest was issued out of Bakersfield, Calif., on May 3rd, and officers successfully took him into custody the following day.

A post on NextDoor described the incident: “2/3 unmarked cop cars came flying in, pinned a guy into the playground parking lot, chased him down and threw him to the ground and cuffed him. 3/4 more unmarked cars were there quickly and seemed to have grabbed 2/3 little kids and held them in their arms away from the situation.”

Sgt. Felicia Sotelo of the Summit County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that both children were then released into the custody of the Utah Division of Child and Family Services.

County deputies were on hand to offer support if needed, emphasizing their primary focus on ensuring the children’s safe transfer into state custody.

Following his arrest, Gigena was booked into the Salt Lake County jail, with his initial appearance in federal court in Salt Lake City scheduled for Monday afternoon.