A South Jordan neighborhood dust-up over speeding ended with one driver allegedly shot in the face with a pepper gun and a nearby resident in handcuffs, according to police. The clash near 10000 South and 4100 West on Thursday started with a shout about speeding and ended with officers arresting a 66-year-old man after reviewing surveillance video and a police booking affidavit.
What police say
According to the booking affidavit, a resident taking out the trash spotted a car he believed was speeding through the neighborhood and yelled at the driver to slow down. When the vehicle continued on, the resident followed it. The affidavit states that once the other driver pulled into a driveway, the resident went into the victim's vehicle, admitted taking the keys and throwing them onto the lawn, then walked back to his own car. Investigators say surveillance footage shows the man firing a pepper gun at the victim's face and then walking toward him and pressing the barrel into the victim's chest during the confrontation. Those details are laid out in a police booking affidavit obtained by KSL.
Booked into the county jail
Police booked the 66-year-old into the Salt Lake County Jail on allegations tied to the encounter and flagged the case for possible road-rage enhancements. For those trying to keep tabs on the case, the county runs an online inmate lookup that provides public information about bookings and custody status. The Salt Lake County corrections site also lists the jail's location and contact details for families, attorneys, or media seeking records and status updates, according to Salt Lake County.
Video shows the shooting
Investigators say they have obtained surveillance video that appears to capture the pepper-gun firing and the scuffle that followed. The affidavit describes the suspect standing outside his vehicle, firing at the victim, and then moving in on him. The man is under investigation for two counts of aggravated assault, burglary, and threatening to use a weapon in a fight, and authorities told reporters that those alleged offenses include suggested road-rage penalty enhancements. Detectives are reviewing the footage along with witness statements while prosecutors decide whether to file formal charges, as reported by KSL.
How the law treats such cases
Under Utah law, an assault can be charged as aggravated assault when it involves a dangerous weapon or another means likely to cause serious bodily injury, which can bump the offense up to a felony. Whether a pepper gun counts as a "dangerous weapon" depends on how it was used and the level of risk it created, factors prosecutors weigh when making charging decisions. The elements of the crime and potential penalties are outlined in Utah Code § 76-5-103.
What's next
South Jordan Police say the investigation is ongoing and that the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office will review the case to determine whether to file formal charges. Anyone with information is asked to contact South Jordan Police. In the meantime, the suspect remains in custody while prosecutors conduct their review.
