Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
- A Taylorsville man, Carson Thain Moffitt, was arrested after a police chase.
- Police say Moffitt fired shots near Granite Park Junior High, prompting an investigation.
- Police rammed Moffitt's vehicle, arresting him; no injuries were reported from gunfire.
TAYLORSVILLE — A Taylorsville man was arrested Wednesday night following a chaotic series of events that began with shots fired near a junior high and ending with police ramming the man's fleeing vehicle.
Carson Thain Moffitt, 40, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of illegal discharge of a firearm, aggravated assault, reckless driving, failing to stop for police and possession of a weapon by a restricted person.
The investigation began Wednesday night when South Salt Lake police responded to a report or shots fired near Granite Park Junior High, 3031 S. 200 East. School was not in session at the time.
"After their arrival, they discovered spent AR-15 style shell casings in the middle of the road near the school. Multiple 911 callers had reported that eight to 10 shots were heard. At this time it is unknown which direction the rounds were directed," according to a police booking affidavit.
Using nearby surveillance video, police identified a Subaru WRX as possibly being involved. Not long after, a Utah Highway Patrol trooper saw a vehicle matching that description going over 100 mph on I-15 near 6000 South, the affidavit states.
The trooper "attempted a traffic stop and the vehicle continued to flee, traveling up to 130 mph before eventually exiting at Redwood Road and I-215 in Taylorsville. The pursuit was terminated to mitigate risk to the public at that time," according to the affidavit.
The trooper was able to get the license plate number of the fleeing vehicle and found it was registered to Moffitt. Law enforcers then went to his Taylorsville residence.
"Troopers rang the doorbell and Moffitt's brother answered and attempted to find out if Moffitt was home. Troopers then heard screaming and shortly thereafter gunshots that appeared to come from inside the residence," the affidavit states.
The brother advised troopers that Moffitt had a rifle.
"Moffitt continued shooting sporadically for several minutes," troopers noted in the affidavit. No gunshot injuries were reported, but the brother told police that Moffitt "pointed the gun twice at him after he had told him the cops were there."
Moffitt then made his way to the garage, opened the door and tried to drive off in the Subaru.
"A Taylorsville police officer intercepted the vehicle and crashed into Moffitt's Subaru, disabling the vehicle," according to the affidavit.
The officer who rammed into Moffitt was checked at a local hospital for minor injuries. Moffitt was taken into custody following the crash.
Police say he "poses an extreme risk to the public" and requested that he be held in the Salt Lake County Jail without the possibility of posting bail pending the filing of formal charges.
