Wrong-way driver threatened to shoot officer

Wrong-way driver threatened to shoot officer

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SALT LAKE CITY — Police arrested a man Friday who they say drove the wrong way down a one-way street and then threatened to shoot the investigating officer.

The incident began about 2:20 a.m. when an officer spotted a driver going the wrong way on 500 South, said Salt Lake police detective Dennis McGowan. The officer turned on his overhead lights to try to get the driver's attention to turn around, but the man drove around the officer.

The officer did a U-turn and followed the motorist, this time with his overhead lights and siren on. The man still did not pull over, he said.

"It was clear the driver was not intending to stop," McGowan said.

To avoid a possible wrong-way chase, the officer pulled over and contacted dispatchers. He then searched the area and found the car parked along the side of the road near 800 East and 500 South.

The officer got out of his car and approached the vehicle to see whether the driver was still inside. As he got close to the vehicle, he heard a male voice in the dark from the front porch saying, "'Hey I don't want to have to shoot you,' or something to that effect," McGowan said.

The officer shined his flashlight on the man and ordered him off the porch. The man complied with the officer's commands to lie on the ground, but then resisted when the officer tried to put handcuffs on him, McGowan said.

Backup officers were called and Brett Brown, 43, of Salt Lake City was arrested for investigation of fleeing and interfering with an arrest. McGowan said when the man talked, his statements were "broken up, disjointed and unintelligible." It was unknown Friday whether the man was intoxicated, or had a mental health problem or medical issue.

State court records show Brown has a lengthy history of DUI and alcohol-related charges and other traffic violations. He pleaded guilty in 2008 to firing a gun from the freeway, according to court records.

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