WEST VALLEY CITY — A police officer fired two shots Wednesday night at a man who tried to hit the officer with his car.

Neither man was injured, but the man who attempted to injure the cop was arrested and booked into the Salt Lake County Jail.

The incident began about 7:45 p.m. while police were in the area of 6900 S. State looking for a man they suspected was involved in a hit-and-run accident a few days earlier, said West Valley Police Capt. Tom McLachlan. In that incident, police say a man hit a vehicle and then told the victim, "I've had a few beers, I'm getting out of here," before taking off.

On Wednesday, an officer spotted the man he was looking for and attempted to stop him. The driver refused to pull over and instead took off on State Street at an estimated 50 to 60 mph, McLachlan said.

The pursuing officer bumped the rear panel of the man's car with his patrol car near 6800 South and 100 East, causing it to spin out. The officer got out of his car and ordered the other man to shut off his vehicle and get out.

The man pulled his car toward the officer. Fearing he was going to get hit, the officer fired twice at the vehicle, McLachlan said. The driver continued forward, striking the officer's car, and then put the vehicle in reverse and fled.

McLachlan did not know exactly what was hit by the officer's shots, but he said the man driving the car was not hit. The officer also was not injured.

Midvale police officers already en route to the incident spotted the fleeing vehicle and followed it to a dead-end street near 6700 South and 100 East, McLachlan said. The driver tried to get out and run away but was tackled by one of the officers and arrested, McLachlan said.

Michael Williamson, 43, was booked for investigation of DUI, felony fleeing, misdemeanor fleeing and aggravated assault.

Williamson has an extensive criminal history, according to court records, including convictions for theft, intoxication and driving under the influence. In March 2008, Williamson pleaded guilty to felony DUI and was placed on probation.

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