Salt Lake man facing counts in Dec. 14 ax episode

A man accused of throwing an ax at his girlfriend and a child during a domestic fight was charged in 3rd District Court on Wednesday with two counts of attempted criminal homicide.

The man tried to choke his live-in girlfriend and tried to break her neck Dec. 14 near 1600 South and 700 West, according to documents filed in court Wednesday. He then allegedly chased her into an apartment where he threatened to kill everyone and broke a telephone. The man then threw an ax at the woman and her child, court documents state.

The woman was able to run to a neighbor's house, and police were called, according to the filing. When they arrived, the man reportedly told police to shoot him.

Police wrestled the man to the ground and arrested him. On the way to jail, he kicked an officer in the face and spit on him, according to the filing.

In addition to the two second-degree felony counts, the 23-year-old Salt Lake resident also faces a third-degree felony aggravated assault charge, a third-degree felony criminal mischief charge, a third-degree felony domestic violence in the presence of a child charge, a third-degree felony assault by a prisoner charge and a Class B misdemeanor terroristic threat charge.

If convicted on all counts, he could spend 50 years in prison. He is being held in the Salt Lake County jail in lieu of $250,000 bail.