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MIDVALE — A man was hospitalized with two spinal fractures and a severe concussion he suffered in an attack by two men in a Midvale apartment, according to a newly filed criminal case.
On May 15, the two men "took turns" punching, kicking, stomping and pistol-whipping the man in the head in an apartment building at 69 W. 8600 South, court documents say.
Zachary Alan Wood, 25, of Midvale, is charged in 3rd District Court with aggravated assault resulting in serious bodily injury, a second-degree felony, as well as the purchase, transfer, possession or use of a firearm by a restricted person, a third-degree felony.
Joseph Russell Mikulski, 39, also of Midvale, is charged in 3rd District Court with aggravated assault, a second-degree felony; theft by receiving stolen property, a second-degree felony; and purchase, transfer, possession or use of a firearm by a restricted person, a third-degree felony, among other drug-related charges.
Initial hearings were held Tuesday for both men, who are being held in the Salt Lake County Jail. The charges were filed Thursday.
The victim was engaged in an argument with his girlfriend, and when she began to yell, Wood and Mikulski "came downstairs and began to beat up on (the man)," court documents say.
A witness reported seeing the defendants take turns "kicking and stomping (the man) on his head," their charges state.
Mikulski pulled out a black and gray .380 pistol and hit (the man) in the head at least 10 times.
–Court documents
"Mikulski pulled out a black and gray .380 pistol and hit (the man) in the head at least 10 times," court documents say. The victim was then allegedly dragged upstairs and attacked further.
The man was rushed to Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, where a CT scan showed he suffered two spinal fractures, among other serious injuries.
A SWAT team arrived at the man's apartment and found a safe containing a handgun and a "large amount" of methamphetamine, according to court documents.
Mikulski is additionally charged in the case with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, a second-degree felony, and possession of drug paraphernalia, a class B misdemeanor. Email: ahobbs@deseretnews.com
