Duchesne man accused of firing at car, officers

DUCHESNE — A Duchesne County man is facing felony charges after he allegedly fired two shots at a man driving past his property.

Police say the "paranoid" man, who had set booby traps on his property to deter burglars, also fired at deputies who arrived to investigate.

Clyde Wayne Thomas, 72, was charged Monday in 8th District Court with attempted murder, a first-degree felony, and discharge of a firearm, a third-degree felony.

Authorities were called early Friday to the Pinion Ridge area by a man who suffered a gash in his head after a bullet entered his vehicle and fragmented, said Duchesne County Sheriff's Sgt. Wade Butterfield. The man told investigators he was in the area to check on a friend's property and was shot at twice as he passed Thomas' home.

A second .22-caliber slug was found in the vehicle's fender, Butterfield said.

Thomas also allegedly fired a single shot in the direction of sheriff's deputies who were staging to approach his home following the initial shooting.

"He was reluctant to believe we were the police," Butterfield said.

Thomas surrendered after a brief negotiation. He denied shooting at the driver, Butterfield said, but did apologize for firing at law enforcement.

"He went on to say he's had problems with people stealing things and that he was told if he fired a few rounds at the treetops it would get them to go away," Butterfield said. "He didn't seem to think that once he fired a stray round in some direction that it could keep going and harm someone. He didn't make the connection there."

The sergeant said the area has been targeted by burglars in the past, but Thomas appeared to be "paranoid" about having his property taken.

"He had locks and hasps on all the hoods of his vehicles," Butterfield said. "He had some tripwires and booby traps made to deter anybody that might steal something from him."

Butterfield described the booby traps as "half-baked" and said they included boards with nails driven through them and cans hanging from strings.

Thomas is being held in the Duchesne County Jail without bail.

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