Police: Utah man assaulted woman he asked to use taser on him

A West Valley City man is accused of assaulting a woman he allegedly asked to use a taser on him when he had panic attacks, police reported.

Ashten Lawrence, 20, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on charges of assault, a class B misdemeanor, and aggravated assault, a third-degree felony, according to a probable cause affidavit.

During an argument on Jan. 2, Lawrence began to have a panic attack. A woman told police that Lawrence had got her a taser for Christmas and “told her to use it on him if he ever went into a panic attack because he would become violent during said panic attacks,” the affidavit states.

The woman said she feared for her safety and used the taser on the back of Lawrence’s neck.

The affidavit states Lawrence became angry and allegedly hit her in the face multiple times, causing significant contusion on the victim’s left eye. Police reported the woman was the dragged on the floor and placed his hands over her nose and mouth, constricting her breathing for at least five seconds.

Individuals charged in complaints are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.