Man jailed in assault on wife, adult kids

LEHI — A Lehi man was arrested Saturday after he grew upset when he learned his adult children and wife were not up and cleaning the house, police say.

The man, 44, was subsequently arrested for investigation of aggravated assault and criminal mischief.

Police said after he woke his family, the man inquired as to what he could do to help with the chores. When they directed him to clean off a kitchen counter, the dad violently threw all the items off the counter top, breaking a large ceramic bowl, according to an affidavit of probable cause filed in 4th District Court.

Still enraged, the 5-foot-8-inch, 320-pound man got into a physical altercation with his adult son, during which he punched his son, police said. The man then grabbed a can of WD-40, sprayed it toward his wife and attempted to ignite the lubricant spray with a lighter. The WD-40 spray hit the man's wife and two of his adult children, but did not ignite, the affidavit states.

In addition to the adult children, there was a 17- and 15-year-old present at the time of the confrontation. The man was booked into Utah County Jail and ordered to have no contact with his wife or children.

— James Davis