By Tracie Sullivan, For Iron County Today
A Parowan man is facing multiple felony charges after authorities say he repeatedly struck a woman in the head with a handgun, threatened to kill her and fled before being arrested hours later by a SWAT team.
Kelly Bess Stones, 55, was arrested July 12 and booked into the Iron County Correctional Facility on charges of second-degree felony aggravated assault, third-degree felony domestic violence in the presence of a child, and misdemeanor counts of threat of violence and carrying a dangerous weapon while under the influence.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed in 5th District Court, officers responded to a report of an incident in Parowan.
Stones had allegedly consumed about 18 cans of beer before becoming angry, entering a room and repeatedly striking the victim in the forehead with a handgun. Authorities said the assault caused bruising, swelling and intense pain.
Court documents allege Stones also pointed the handgun at the victim’s face and later her forehead while threatening to kill her.
The victim called 911 as the suspect fled the residence on foot. Stones later returned to the home, where he tried to leave in a pickup truck that wouldn’t start.
Stones reportedly blamed the victim for calling police, threatened that she would not be taken alive and left the residence again, taking a cellphone.
The Iron Metro SWAT team was deployed who located and arrested the suspect at a property in the Brian Head area. Investigators said he remained intoxicated when he was taken into custody several hours after the incident.
In requesting that Stones remain in custody, police wrote that the victim reported he had threatened to kill her and pointed a gun at her on numerous previous occasions. She told authorities she believed he would carry out those threats if he were released from jail.