ST. GEORGE – Police arrested a man in the Dixie Downs area Monday on multiple charges following what was initially reported as a psychiatric call.

Around 6:20 p.m., St. George Police officers were sent to the area of 1331 N. Royal Circle on the call of a possibly suicidal individual. When they reached the area they found a man lying on the ground on 1360 North. The man was identified as 34-year-old Kyley Cox of St. George.

He was tended to by medical personnel who found Cox had a small laceration on his chest, according to a probable cause statement. While being checked out, Cox became violent and was placed in handcuffs.

Police officers contacted a juvenile involved in the incident who said Cox allegedly tried to kill himself with a large knife. When she attempted to take the knife from him, she said Cox hit her in the head twice.

A witness to the incident told police she saw Cox hit the girl in the head.

The juvenile also stated Cox had been drinking prior to the incident, according to the arrest statement.

After being loaded into an ambulance bound for Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George, Cox headbutted a paramedic who ultimately declined to press charges. While continuing to be physically violent in the ambulance, Cox reportedly kicked a police officer in the chest before being fully restrained. Officers noted a strong smell of alcohol coming from Cox during the struggle.

“(Cox) was found to be under the influence of alcohol and a danger to himself while in public,” an officer involved in the incident wrote in the probable cause statement.

While investigating the event, police found Cox to be in the possession of drugs not prescribed to him. Police were able to contact a roommate of Cox’s who said the drugs came from a bottle taken from her purse. Cox also hit the hood of the woman’s car multiple times and dented it, causing an estimated $600 worth of damage.

The incident occurred right in front of Randy Jones’ home. Jones and his wife had been out on a walk when the majority of the incident played out. When they returned they saw a gathering of police, fire and medical personnel in front of their house.

“It all happened in our driveway,” Jones said.

Cox was transported to the hospital for examination and eventually cleared to be taken to the Washington County Purgatory Correctional Facility and booked into jail.

He was charged with misdemeanor offenses related to assaulting a police officer, intentional physical abuse of a child, theft, drug possession, intoxication and a domestic violence-criminal mischief charge.

Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact. This report is based on preliminary information provided by law enforcement or other emergency responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.

Ed. note: The photo caption on Cox’s mugshot should read: Kyley Scot Cox of St. George, booking photo, March 21, 2016 | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News. It was brought to our attention Mar. 24 that on one or more devices the caption presented as Josh Warburton, candidate for Washington County Commission. The technical issue is being explored and we have not yet been able to replicate the problem.  Our apologies to Warburton for any embarrassment this has caused him.

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