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WEST JORDAN — A West Valley man with a violent criminal history was charged Wednesday with attempted murder after he allegedly shot a man in the neck during a road rage outburst.
Joseph Granados, 33, also known as Joseph "Psycho," was charged in the 3rd District Court with attempted murder, a first-degree felony, and 10 counts of felony discharge of a firearm, a third-degree felony, among other charges.
He is accused of shooting a man while driving before engaging in a high-speed chase with officers who were attempting to arrest him.
According to charging documents, Stephen Mecham, 43, was driving near 4800 W. 6200 South on June 6 when Granados pulled up alongside him brandishing a handgun.
The driver quickly drove away and called 911, but Granados chased after him, ramming into his vehicle and forcing him to crash into a parked car, and then firing multiple rounds at him, the charges state.
One bullet struck Mecham in the neck, and then Granados fled in his vehicle, police said.
West Jordan police found eight bullets in Mecham's car, one bullet in the ground near his vehicle, and two bullets in the wall of a nearby condominium, according to the charges.
A West Valley police detective attempted to stop Granados when he located his vehicle, but said Granados refused and accelerated. While in pursuit of Granados, the detective said Granados struck a vehicle and fled on foot before he was eventually detained.
Police said Mecham was picked completely at random by Granados and didn't do anything to prompt the shooting.
Related
Man in road rage case 'had no business being on street,' police say
Police say a man arrested in an apparent road rage shooting "had no business being on the street."When Granados was searched after he was detained, police found methamphetamine and a drug pipe, the charges state, and Granados showed "numerous signs of being under the influence."
Mecham, who was treated at a local hospital, told investigators that Granados was "swerving all over the road" prior to the incident.
Granados was previously convicted of a violent felony in 2nd District Court and is restricted from possessing a dangerous weapon.
In April, a no bail warrant was issued for Granados' arrest on charges of failing to stop at the command of a police officer. Granados was spotted punching another driver at the intersection of 3100 South and 4800 West, according to charging documents. The officer recognized Granados as a suspect in another shooting investigation.
At the time of the April incident, Granados also had an active criminal case on charges of felony hit-and-run causing serious bodily injury, DUI, reckless driving and having no license, according to the charges.
In 2011, Granados was convicted of assault with serious bodily injury. He was also convicted of failing to stop for police in 2006 and 2009. In 1999 when he was 17, Granados was convicted of attempted murder, according to court records.
In addition to the previously mentioned charges, Granados was also charged Friday with felony discharge of a firearm with injury, a second-degree felony; possession of a firearm by a restricted person, a second-degree felony; two counts of failure to respond to a police officer, a third-degree felony and class A misdemeanor; two counts of criminal mischief, a third-degree felony and class B misdemeanor; possession of a controlled substance, a class A misdemeanor; possession of drug paraphernalia, a class B misdemeanor; and violating duties for an accident involving property damage, a class C misdemeanor.
