SALT LAKE CITY — A taxi driver was arrested Wednesday after police say he hit another vehicle on purpose because he believed he was being followed, and then punched an officer.
Johnson Ukumu Idris, 50, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of reckless driving, DUI, assault on an officer, intoxication and having an open container of alcohol in his vehicle. All of the charges come with potential road rage penalty enhancements if convicted.
Wednesday night, Idris was driving his taxi in Salt Lake City "when he believed another vehicle was following him," according to a police booking affidavit. Idris allegedly told police he then "intentionally hit the other vehicle because they were following him" and then walked up to the victim's window and "began screaming at the other driver stating that they were following him."
When police arrived at the scene, they found Idris "laying on the grass either pretending to be asleep or having actually fallen asleep on the grass," the affidavit states.
Police noted that Idris "had a strong odor of alcohol coming from his breath" and that he "was unable to walk without assistance, spoke with a heavy slur, and had extremely red, bloodshot, watery eyes."
As officers were assessing Idris, he punched one of the officers in the chest, the affidavit alleges.
Officers also reported finding a bottle of alcohol in the taxi that was three-fourths empty.
