Chain-saw attacker crashes

Cedar City police have arrested a man they said drove into a snowbank while striking his girlfriend with a power saw.

Police said the couple was arguing while driving down Cross Hollows Road at about 5 p.m. Friday, when their pickup went off the road.

"He's striking her with a Sawzall," Cedar City Police Sgt. Jerry Womack said Monday. "As a result of him not paying attention, they run off the road and into a snowbank."

Witnesses who saw the couple's pickup hit the snowbank called 911. When police arrived, officers began piecing together what had happened.

"She had injuries on her leg that were consistent with the blade of the saw," Womack said.

A Sawzall is a cordless reciprocating saw with a knife-like blade attached. Police said the blade on the Sawzall was about 6 inches long. It was not turned on at the time of the alleged assault, Womack said.

As the man was being taken into custody, officers said he threatened his 45-year-old girlfriend.

"He told his girlfriend, 'If you tell them what happened, I'll kill you, I'll burn your house down, I'll kill your family,"' Womack said.

Thomas Edward Cwynar, 38, was booked into the Iron County Jail on investigation of witness tampering, aggravated assault, threats against a life, driving without insurance, no registration in vehicle and unsafe lane change.

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