Utah man allegedly points gun at driver, then finds out it’s a cop

WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah — A man who police say brandished a gun at another driver soon found himself in handcuffs after he learned that the victim was actually a police officer in an unmarked patrol car.

About 11:45 a.m. Monday, Taylor Ray Bradley, 29, was driving on 5600 West approaching 4100 South when a car in front of him signaled to switch lanes and make a turn onto 4100 South. Bradley then became upset with the other driver and began tailgating him, according to a police booking affidavit.

While heading east on 4100 South, Bradley pulled up alongside the victim’s truck and “began yelling profanities and proceeded to point what appears to be a small silver firearm” at the other driver, the affidavit states.

As Bradley passed the truck, the other driver — a sergeant with the Granite School District Police Department in an unmarked patrol vehicle — turned on the red and blue lights and pulled the man over near 5470 West.

Bradley was placed in handcuffs and officers found a gun “pushed into the seat cushion of the passenger side front seat,” the affidavit states.

Officers noted in the affidavit that in addition to being “highly upset” while driving and then “dishonest” about the location of the gun, Bradley “displays signs of an individual who could potentially put the public and other motor vehicle operators at risk for road rage incidents.” He was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of aggravated assault and threatening to use a weapon in a fight.