Police in eastern Utah say a pregnant teenager asked a man to beat her up so she would miscarry.

The teenager suffered severe bruising around her stomach. The unborn child appears to be OK, but doctors won't know for sure until it is born, said Naples police Chief Mark J. Watkins.

Both the pregnant teenager and the man have been arrested for suspicion of attempted murder against the unborn child.

"Never in my 21 years [in law enforcement] was I shocked so much," Watkins said Thursday. "It's just cold and ruthless."

The 17-year-old girl is seven months pregnant, Watkins said, and has told police she had carried the child too long and did not want to give birth.

The girl went to an acquaintance, 21-year-old Arron N. Harrison, and asked him to assault her and spur the miscarriage, Watkins said. The chief said the girl also offered some incentive to Harrison. Watkins declined to elaborate.

Late Tuesday or early Wednesday, the girl went to Harrison's home in Naples and Harrison beat her with his fists, Watkins said. Then the girl went home and told her family an unknown person mugged and sexually assaulted her, Watkins said.

The family called police, but the story did not make sense to officers, Watkins said. Eventually, the girl admitted what happened, Watkins said.

The girl is in a juvenile detention center. Harrison on Thursday night remained in the Uintah County jail in lieu of $10,000 bail. Formal charges have no been filed.