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Man charged with attempted murder in violent Centerville home invasion, fire

By Mark Shenefelt - | Aug 19, 2022

Photo supplied, Centerville Police Department

This photo from a police drone shows a Centerville home burning Thursday, July 21, 2022, after a man allegedly assaulted two elderly people and lit the dwelling on fire.

FARMINGTON — Prosecutors on Friday filed a dozen criminal charges against Ammon Woodhead stemming from a brutal attack against elderly people in their Centerville home, which was destroyed by a fire he allegedly set.

The charging documents against the 37-year-old suspect provided additional details about the violent events of July 21 at the home of a couple, ages 74 and 68, and the woman’s 88-year-old father.

The Davis County Attorney’s Office charged Woodhead with two counts of attempted aggravated murder and counts of aggravated arson, robbery and burglary, plus charges of disarming a police officer and use of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person, all first-degree felonies; and several misdemeanors, including resisting arrest, theft and auto burglary.

According to a Centerville Police Department probable cause statement, the 74-year-old homeowner was resting on his bed, using oxygen, when a man he had never seen entered his room holding a gas can. “Give me all your money or I’m going to burn your house down,” Woodhead allegedly said. “Oh, good, you have oxygen. You’ll burn fast.”

Woodhead then allegedly poured gasoline on the floor, the bed and the homeowner, who grabbed a mug and hit Woodhead on the head. The homeowner went into the hall and saw his wife on the ground. Woodhead allegedly hit him, knocking him to the floor. Earlier, Woodhead had confronted the woman and hit her in the mouth as she was calling 911, the affidavit said.

Woodhead then allegedly poured water on the floor by her and used a lighter to set the fire. After the two got up, he attacked both again, punching and pushing them as the fire surged through the house, the charges alleged.

The suspect then reportedly began searching other rooms in the house as the couple tried to get out. The woman found her father and was helping him move toward the door when police officers ran in, the home now smoke-filled and burning fiercely.

Officers found Woodhead in the garage, the man yelling and growling. He refused to follow their commands and as police tried to subdue him, he kicked and bit them and knocked a stun gun from an officer’s hand, the arrest affidavit said. They eventually got him out, the suspect and the officers all suffering smoke inhalation.

The charges against Woodhead carry severity enhancements because he is classified as a habitual violent criminal. He has been paroled and has reoffended several times since his first conviction in 2013. As a habitual offender, Woodhead will no longer be eligible for probation.

Pending the new charges, he has been returned to the Utah State Prison on a parole violation. He had no attorney of record as of Friday afternoon. In past cases he has been represented by public defenders.

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