Case advances against man in Centerville fire, assaults
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 — A judge has scheduled an arraignment for a 37-year-old man accused of trying to kill two people in their Centerville home and setting the dwelling on fire.
In a preliminary hearing last week, 2nd District Judge Michael DiReda found that evidence was sufficient to support the charges against Ammon Woodhead in the July 21 incident. He scheduled Woodhead for arraignment on Nov. 22.
Police pulled Woodhead out of the burning home while he was resisting arrest, including allegedly disarming one officer of their stun gun, according to charging documents.
The homeowner couple, ages 74 and 68, and the woman’s 88-year-old father were in the house when Woodhead allegedly barged in. A Centerville Police Department arrest affidavit said the 74-year-old 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 gas 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.
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.
Woodhead is charged 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.
The charges carry severity enhancements because Woodhead 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.