Wealthy Utah Builder Accused of Violent Assault on Wife
A prominent Utah homebuilder has been arrested following a dramatic SWAT standoff at his luxury residence after allegedly assaulting his wife in front of their young children. Cary Evan Blake, 56, owner of the successful C. Blake Homes construction company, faces multiple serious charges including domestic violence and assault.
The Alleged Attack and Dramatic Standoff
According to court documents obtained by ABC 4, the incident began on Saturday when Blake and his wife Brenda were engaged in a verbal argument at their $1.2 million home in Ivins, located near the borders of Nevada and Arizona. The situation rapidly escalated when Blake allegedly struck the back of his wife's head.
When the couple's son-in-law attempted to intervene, court filings state that Blake turned his aggression toward him, striking him in the back. The situation deteriorated further when Blake placed his hands around Brenda's neck and began choking her, according to statements the alleged victims provided to police.
The son-in-law reportedly pushed Blake away from Brenda during the assault, enabling Brenda, the son-in-law, and two children aged eight and eleven to escape the property and contact emergency services.
Hours-Long Standoff Ends With Arrest
Police responding to the domestic violence call encountered an uncooperative Blake who refused to exit the residence, initiating an hours-long standoff with authorities. The situation required deployment of the county SWAT team, who eventually entered the property and took Blake into custody.
Police noted that during communications with the SWAT and Hostage Negotiations team, Blake's speech appeared slurred and consistent with impairment. He was subsequently charged with public intoxication in addition to the violence-related offences.
Multiple Charges and Company Background
Blake now faces an extensive list of charges including two counts of domestic violence in the presence of a child, one count of aggravated assault, simple assault, interference with a police officer, and public intoxication. Authorities also served an outstanding arrest warrant for failure to pay a traffic citation related to expired vehicle registration.
The alleged violence stands in stark contrast to the public image of Blake's successful property business. C. Blake Homes, which specialises in creating luxurious dream homes in the desert region near St George and Snow Canyon State Park, prominently features the husband-and-wife team on its website and social media accounts.
Testimonials on the company website praise Blake's high-quality craftsmanship, describing him as 'simply the best of the best' as a builder and contractor. The company had previously celebrated Brenda's role, describing her in a 2021 birthday tribute as the 'Designer, CFO, the "Mothership," the glue that holds us all together!'
Blake appeared in court on Monday and is currently being held in Washington County Jail without bail. His next court appearance is scheduled for December 4th as the legal proceedings continue.
