A Provo therapist accused of sexually abusing patients was arrested Wednesday after a standoff with law enforcement.

In August, Provo police reportedly began receiving reports from multiple alleged victims stating they were sexually abused by Scott Owen during therapy sessions at Canyon Counseling in Provo, according to police records.

Police have interviewed 12 separate people all claiming some form of criminal sexual abuse by Owen, who specializes in same-sex attraction. Provo police say they are aware of additional possible victims and believe that additional cases involving Owen are probable.

Two more victims came forward Thursday morning after hearing of Owen’s arrest, according to Jana-Lee Holland, Provo City public information officer. All alleged victims are male.

After looking into the allegations, Provo police referred the case to the Utah County Attorney’s Office, and Owen agreed to surrender for transport to the Utah County Jail on Wednesday. But when he did not appear, detectives began searching and located him near the town of Thistle alone in his car. A four-hour standoff ensued and Highway 89 near Thistle and north of Birdseye was closed while tactical units from the Utah County Sheriff’s Office responded.

No one was injured during the standoff, though sheriff’s office spokesman Sgt. Spencer Cannon said Owen had a gun in his possession at the time of the arrest.

Owen safely surrendered and was booked into custody at the Utah County Jail on suspicion of object rape and forcible sodomy.

Based on statements made to police, Owen allegedly would tell patients during therapy sessions that their relationships with men were broken and he could help them be able to have “normal” relationships with men and eventually women.

Owen also reportedly would tell patients that they needed to be open to his therapy and risk being vulnerable, explaining that physical touch was part of the therapy and that being vulnerable to him would fix their relationships with men and help with their same-sex attraction.

Police were told Owen would tell his patients that they were the only ones he would do this type of therapy with and to not tell anyone else about their same-sex attraction, but to only trust him.

According to Holland, most of the alleged victims are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with many being Brigham Young University students who said they were referred to him from BYU, while others said they were referred by church bishops who reportedly had heard Owen was a good therapist for same-sex attraction.

According to one police complaint describing events said to have occurred in September and October 2017, Owen used his position as a therapist to coerce the patient into engaging in kissing, cuddling and sexual touching while both he and the alleged victim were naked during therapy sessions. The same victim reported unlawful sex through oral stimulation and sodomy on at least four separate occasions.

Another man also reported that on or about January 2017, Owen engaged in unlawful sexual activity with him during therapy sessions, reporting that he and Owen would each remove their clothing and engage in kissing, cuddling and anal stimulation.

Based on just these two cases, there are 10 first-degree felony charges against Owen that have been reported to the Utah County Attorney’s Office, though formal charges are pending. In the meantime, Owen is being held without bail in the Utah County Jail, according to Holland.

The reports of sexual abuse against Owen cover a period of time from 2010-2018.

Police are asking anyone with information about these or other unreported cases to contact them at 801-852-6210.