Officer acted lawfully in shooting out tires

The Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office has found that a West Valley City police officer acted lawfully when he shot out the tires of a man's car earlier this month.

The district attorney's office sent a letter to West Valley City and Midvale police departments notifying the agencies of the decision.

The shooting happened on July 1 when the detective involved responded to 1300 E. Fort Union Blvd. to investigate a hit-and-run involving Michael Ray Williamson, according to court documents.

On July 9, charges against Williamson were filed by the district attorney's office. According to the charges, the detective saw Williamson enter a parking lot at the residence, and the detective motioned for him to stop. Williamson then accelerated the vehicle at a high rate of speed away from the area, and the detective was unable to catch up with him, the charges said.

Later on the same day, Williamson returned to the residence and again fled upon seeing the officer, the court documents said. The detective pursued Williamson, who entered a residential area, where the detective performed a PIT maneuver, bumping the vehicle so it would spin out.

After the car spun and stopped, the detective approached the vehicle.

Williamson then accelerated his vehicle towards the detective, who "feared for his safety and stepped to the side," the charges said.

The detective "fired two rounds towards the tire area on the defendant's vehicle," according to the charges.

Williamson was charged with aggravated assault, failure to stop at the command of a police officer and DUI, all third-degree felonies. He also faces five misdemeanor charges.

The district attorney's office reviews officer-involved shootings to investigate whether the officer's actions were legally justified.

e-mail: ethomas@desnews.com