This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Prosecutors have charged the man who allegedly shot at a Utah Highway Patrol trooper last month on Interstate 215.
Damion Johon Williams, 25, is charged in 3rd District Court with assault against a peace officer, a second-degree felony, and aggravated kidnapping and aggravated robbery, which are first-degree felonies. He was also charged with failure to respond to the officer's signal to stop, two weapons offenses and two counts of theft by receiving stolen property.
On Dec. 19, a trooper had pulled over a woman for reckless driving on west Interstate 215 near 3300 South. The female resisted arrest and while she and the trooper struggled, Williams allegedly drove by in a Honda, firing once over the officer's head.
Three days later, police reportedly spotted Williams jumping into a Mazda Protege with three other people and began pursuit. During the chase, the suspects crashed into three other vehicles at 4500 South and 500 East. Williams and the driver attempted to flee, but were taken into custody after a brief foot chase.
Williams was found to be armed with a .25-caliber pistol. The firearm, allegedly recovered from Williams' pocket, appeared to have had its serial number removed, UHP said.
No injuries were reported from the crashes. The passengers in the car told police that Williams had ordered them at gunpoint to flee from officers.
Williams initially refused to speak with investigators, but later asked to speak with detectives to tell them he had shot at the trooper only to scare him, UHP said.
But a probable cause statement filed by arresting officers noted that the passengers in the car that Williams allegedly commandeered told investigators that he had bragged about the shooting, saying, "I was trying to kill that motherf——-.".
Williams is being held at the Salt Lake County Jail in lieu of $1 million cash-only bail.
Twitter: @mikeypanda