Police release charges, body cam footage of Centerville home invasion

CENTERVILLE, Utah — Formal charges have been filed against a 37-year-old man after he allegedly broke into a home in Centerville on July 21, attacked the residents, and then set fire to the building.

The Centerville Police Department also released body camera footage from officers who responded to the fire and assault. It shows police efforts to evacuate the house and get the combative Ammon Jacob Woodhead out of the house while smoke rolls out through the garage and other places.

Woodhead can be heard on the video, which came from a camera worn by Officer Alex Farnes, telling police he is the devil and that they will have to kill him and that he wanted to burn.

Woodhead of Salt Lake City was charged by the Davis County Attorney’s Office Friday with:

• Aggravated attempted homicide (habitual violent offender) — First-degree felony
• Aggravated attempted homicide (habitual violent offender) — First-degree felony
• Aggravated robbery (habitual violent offender) — First-degree felony
• Disarming a police officer (habitual violent offender) — First-degree felony
• Aggravated arson (habitual violent offender) — First-degree felony
• Aggravated burglary (habitual violent offender) — First-degree felony
• Possession or use of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person (habitual violent offender) — First-degree felony
• Theft — Third-degree felony
• Vehicle burglary — Class A misdemeanor
• Assault against a peace officer — Class A misdemeanor
• Assault against a peace officer — Class A misdemeanor
• Interference with arresting officer — Class B misdemeanor

According to Woodhead’s indictment, a number of the charges were enhanced due to Woodhead’s history, adding that the state is alleging he’s a habitual violent offender.

“If a person is convicted in this state of a violent felony by plea or by verdict and the trier of fact determines beyond a reasonable doubt that the person is a habitual violent offender under this section, the penalty for a: (a) third degree felony is as if the conviction were for a first degree felony; (b) second degree felony is as if the conviction were for a first degree felony; or (c) first degree felony remains the penalty for a first degree penalty except: (i) the convicted person is not eligible for probation; and (ii) the Board of Pardons and Parole shall consider that the convicted person is a habitual violent offender as an aggravating factor in determining the length of incarceration.”

Woodhead — who, according to court documents, was on felony parole at the time he allegedly committed the crime in Centerville — is being held without bail.

Additional information about the charges can be found in the information filed in the Second District Court in Davis County by the County Attorney’s Office.