Salt Lake man allegedly attempts to attack with wooden stake; claims victim was a werewolf

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — A Salt Lake City man was arrested after allegedly attacking another man with a wooden stake, claiming the victim was a werewolf and threatening to pierce his heart.

Police said dispatchers received several reports of an attack involving a weapon on Saturday afternoon, June 14.

According to arrest documents, 24-year-old Jose Manuel Perez was getting lunch with the victim when he suddenly began hitting him. The victim attempted to escape several times, but Perez reportedly put him in a chokehold to stop him.

Perez then pulled out a wooden stake with a nail protruding from it and told the man "that he is a werewolf and was going to pierce his heart," police said.

The victim eventually fought back and escaped. However, Perez allegedly took the man’s backpack and fled the scene.

Officers later found Perez with the victim's backpack and several rocks in his pockets. He reportedly told police he was armed because he believed the victim was going to kill him. Perez admitted to taking the backpack but claimed it wasn’t a robbery, saying police were going to return it to the victim.

Perez was booked into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail on one count of aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony.

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