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SALT LAKE CITY — Charges were filed Tuesday against a St. George man who police say tried to kill his grandparents after allegedly huffing an aerosol can.
Jacob Tolman Klein, 23, is charged in 5th District Court with attempted murder, a first-degree felony; aggravated assault, a second-degree felony; assault on a police officer, a class A misdemeanor; plus making a threat of violence, criminal mischief, psychotoxic chemical abuse and interfering with an arrest, all class B misdemeanors.
On Sunday, Klein violently attacked his grandparents, who are both 80, at their St. George home where he also lived, according to a police affidavit.
During the attack, he kicked his grandfather to the ground "and continued to kick him in the face and abdomen," the affidavit states. Police say Klein then chased his grandmother outside and attacked her. The woman suffered a broken nose and "skin tears" on her forearms.
At the hospital, Klein told investigators that "his intention was to kill grandfather, and only stopped attacking him because he believed that he was dead," according to the affidavit.
Police further learned that Klein has a history of abusing inhalants and two empty cans of "Dust Off" were found in his room, police wrote in the report.
