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WEST VALLEY CITY — A man was arrested on Friday evening after police say he rammed an officer’s car, made threats to officers and was violent with his girlfriend.
Police arrested Niko Austin Martinez, 23, after the crash.
Officers responded about 8:15 p.m. to a residence near 3100 S. 2700 West on a report of a domestic altercation involving a weapon, West Valley City Lt. Steve Burke said.
A boyfriend and girlfriend who lived together were involved in the confrontation, Burke said. Before officers arrived, the man’s brother had used a taser to try to stop him from fighting, according to Burke.
Police at the scene also were told the man had been trying to strangle his girlfriend, Burke said.
The man also had broken into a room in which his girlfriend had locked herself, stolen car keys, and taken a car that belonged to a relative of his family, Burke said.
When police arrived at the house, the man was parked down the street in the car. He called the girlfriend and told her he could see two police officers at the home, and he asked what they were doing, Burke said.
When she answered him, the man told his girlfriend that he saw the two officers and was going to “take them out,” Burke said.
After that, the man began driving, but an officer was able to find him, Burke said. The man led police on a short chase before he hit two civilian vehicles near the intersection of 3500 South and 2700 West.
He also rammed a police vehicle as he tried to escape, Burke said.
The man had a minor foot injury and the officer had a hand injury, Burke said. Two civilians also involved in the crash were not injured.
As of 11 p.m. Friday the man had been taken into custody and transported to a hospital, Burke said.
