Felony charges for man accused in vehicle rampage, assault


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SALT LAKE CITY — An apparently disgruntled employee who police say went on a destructive rampage that culminated with assaulting his former boss inside his house has been charged.

Philip G. Deluca, 33, of Taylorsville, was charged Thursday in 3rd District Court with aggravated burglary, a first-degree felony; aggravated assault resulting in serious bodily injury, a second-degree felony; and assault, a class B misdemeanor.

For approximately two hours early Sunday morning, Deluca used his Chevy Duramax truck to smash into cars and homes in White City and a police substation in Cottonwood Heights, police said.

He then went to a home in Millcreek belonging to his former boss, with whom he had a bad falling out in recent weeks, according to Unified police. The boss had recently fired Deluca, according to charging documents.

Some of the damage resulting from a May 22, 2016, "rampage" where police say Philip Deluca smashed his truck into several homes and cars, then physically assaulted his former boss. (Photo: Mark Wetzel, KSL-TV, file)
Some of the damage resulting from a May 22, 2016, "rampage" where police say Philip Deluca smashed his truck into several homes and cars, then physically assaulted his former boss. (Photo: Mark Wetzel, KSL-TV, file)

Deluca made his way into the house and started beating his ex-boss with a crutch while he was still in bed, according to the charges.

When the victim's wife and daughters heard the commotion coming from their father's room, they attempted to help him by hitting Deluca on the head with a hoverboard and spraying him with pepper spray, the charges state.

The man's wife was also hit in the mouth with a closed fist by Deluca during the melee, according to charging documents.

Deluca was convicted of attempted aggravated assault in 2013 and ordered to complete a mental health treatment program as part of his probation, court records state.

In that case, charges say Deluca "snapped" and rammed his truck into the back of another vehicle, pushing it through an intersection and into a light pole.

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