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The West Jordan Police Department is reviewing a new video from Taylor Frankie Paul’s ex-boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen, amid allegations of a third domestic violence incident, a spokesperson told PEOPLE on March 25
The spokesperson said that there is an “active domestic violence case” involving Mortensen and Paul and that Mortensen had submitted video to police that the department believes was filmed in “early-to-mid 2024”
Paul and Mortensen are also the subjects of a separate domestic assault investigation by the Draper City Police Department, which was opened in February
Police are reviewing a new video from Taylor Frankie Paul’s ex-boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen, amid allegations of a third domestic violence incident.
West Jordan Police Department confirmed to PEOPLE on Wednesday, March 25, that there is an “active domestic violence case” involving Paul and Mortensen. A spokesperson for the Utah police department said that Mortensen contacted police at the end of February and that he spoke to police about the case in the “middle of last week,” but could not share specific dates. The spokesperson added that the department was “hopeful” to speak with Paul but did not have an interview time scheduled.
As a part of the case, the spokesperson continued, Mortensen submitted a video that the department believes was filmed in “early-to-mid 2024.” Police are actively reviewing the video as part of the open investigation.
NBC News first reported the West Jordan Police Department’s investigation on March 24. Neither Reps for Paul nor Mortensen commented to PEOPLE on the West Jordan Police Department’s investigation.
Amid the news of the investigation, a source close to Paul tells PEOPLE, “Dakota has a pattern of provoking Taylor, filming her when she starts to react and threatening to leak the videos to ruin her image. They’re totally misleading as they make Taylor look like the problem by cutting out everything Dakota did to cause the situation in the first place.” PEOPLE has reached out to Mortensen for comment.
Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill told PEOPLE on March 25 that his office was “aware” of the allegations in West Jordan and that they were of interest as Paul remains on probation for separate domestic violence charges brought against her in 2023.
News of the West Jordan Police Department’s investigation comes less than two weeks after the Draper City Police Department told PEOPLE that there was another open “domestic assault investigation” that involved The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star, 31, and her ex-boyfriend, 33.
Regarding that incident, Draper Police Department spokesperson said, “allegations have been made in both directions” as a part of the investigation and “contact was made with involved parties on [Feb.] 24 and 25.”
On March 25, the Draper City communications director told PEOPLE that the Draper City prosecutor “has sent information to the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s office for review,” adding that “both agencies are still involved in the review at this stage.”
“This is an open investigation,” the Draper City Prosecutor’s office told PEOPLE on March 25, declining to comment further on the case.
A spokesperson for the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s office said that it requested materials from the Draper City Police Department “late last week” to “screen the most recent allegations for charges.” The office noted that, if charges are filed, they “may affect the case for which the defendant is currently on probation.”
On March 19, Mortensen filed for a protective order against Paul, with whom she shared 2-year-old son Ever, on March 19, according to court documents obtained by PEOPLE. A hearing has been set for April 7.
Paul — who rose to fame online as the founder of MomTok and later as a cast member on Mormon Wives — was previously arrested for alleged domestic violence in 2023 following an argument with Mortensen, accused of throwing a chair at her ex that allegedly hit her daughter. She was given misdemeanor charges of assault, criminal mischief and commission of domestic violence in the presence of a child, and she later pled guilty in abeyance to aggravated assault, meaning that if she complies with the conditions of the plea, her charge will be lessened or potentially dismissed. The other charges were dismissed.
On March 19, a 2023 video surfaced that showed Paul yelling and throwing chairs at Mortensen while a child was nearby. The footage — published by TMZ — matched a 2023 indictment obtained by PEOPLE, which alleged that Paul threw “heavy, metal chairs” at Mortensen and that Paul’s daughter was struck by a chair during the incident.
A spokesperson for Paul claimed to PEOPLE that the video “conveniently omits context” and called its release a “reprehensible attempt [by Mortensen] to distract from his own behavior.”
“As anyone who has seen the video will understand, this is a deeply upsetting situation,” Mortensen said in a statement to PEOPLE after the footage leaked. “I am, unfortunately, used to these baseless claims about me and our relationship, which I categorically deny. I am focusing on our son and his safety, and hope that Taylor will do the same.”
Dakota Mortensen and Taylor Frankie Paul
Credit: Disney/Fred Hayes
Hours after the release of the 2023 video, ABC announced that it was cancelling Paul’s already-filmed season of The Bachelorette, which was set to premiere three days later.
In a statement after the cancellation, a spokesperson for Paul said the reality TV star was “grateful” to the network for its “support as she prioritizes her family’s safety and security.”
“After years of silently suffering extensive mental and physical abuse as well as threats of retaliation, Taylor is finally gaining the strength to face her accuser and taking steps to ensure that she and her children are protected from any further harm,” the spokesperson continued. “Taylor has remained silent out of fear of further abuse, retaliation and public shaming. She is currently exploring all of her options, seeking support, and preparing to own and share her story.”
Amid the open police investigations involving Paul, the fifth season of Mormon Wives has halted filming. Sources first confirmed the production pause to PEOPLE on March 16, noting that several cast members refused to work with Paul. Most recently, Mormon Wives star Jessi Draper confirmed to podcast Alex Cooper on the March 25 episode of Call Her Daddy that the Hulu show was still “on a film pause.”
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“None of the women want to be associated with her,” a source close to the cast previously told PEOPLE. Added another source close to production: “The girls are very overwhelmed. They all banded together and they don’t want to come back right now.”
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