This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

A West Jordan man who was shot and wounded by a police officer two years ago after brandishing a fake gun, was acquitted Tuesday of allegedly assaulting the officer.

Timothy James Peterson, 33, was initially charged with charged second-degree felony assault against a police officer, and misdemeanor counts of unlawful possession of a dangerous weapon and failure to stop at the command of law enforcement. Prosecutors last month dropped all but the assault charge.

After a two-day trial, a 3rd District Court jury found Peterson not guilty.

The Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office had previously found that West Jordan officer Ian Adams was justified in using deadly force when he shot Peterson once in the leg and once in the buttocks on July 10, 2014, at the Jordan Landing shopping complex.

According to the district attorney's report, events leading up to the shooting include that:

— Peterson had called and sent texts to his estranged wife, in violation of a protective order, then showed up at her house but left before police arrived.

— Peterson posted on his Facebook page that he was upset at his wife for calling police. He also posted threats to shoot officers if they came after him and said it did not matter if "I get shot by the cops."

— West Jordan officers, including Adams, were briefed about Peterson's threats, and they reviewed a photo and physical description of the man.

At about 12:30 a.m. on July 10, Adams was patrolling at Jordan Landing when he saw two men walking and thought one of them looked like Peterson.

When Adams stopped, Peterson ran.

Adams chased Peterson, who turned and began to draw what Adams described as a handgun.

The object "flashed silver, red then silver and red again," the district attorney's report states. When Peterson raised his hand and pointed the object at Adams, the officer fired his weapon until Peterson went to the ground.

Peterson was found to be carrying a metal bar that was bent in the shape of a handgun, which had a red laser pointer taped to the "barrel," the district attorney's report states.

Peterson was released from the hospital about five days later. Charges were filed against him in August 2014.