A Utah man was arrested after he followed and shot the driver in a traffic violation, according to police

SALT LAKE CITY — A man who claimed he fired his gun in self-defense during a traffic altercation was arrested after police said they determined his claims that he was acting in self-defense were unfounded.

Peter M. Lyons, 57, was arrested Wednesday for investigation of aggravated assault with enhanced punishment for speeding.

Shortly after 4 p.m., Lyons was driving east on 2600 South in Woods Cross when a 32-year-old man who was changing lanes almost hit him, according to a police affidavit. Lyons “believed the other driver was drunk and began following him.”

Lyons followed the other driver onto I-15, then south onto I-215 and exited at the 700 North exit. The other driver, knowing he was being followed, pulled into the parking lot of a business at 369 N. 2370 West in Salt Lake City.

“(Lyons’) vehicle struck the rear of (the other driver’s) vehicle causing minor damage,” the affidavit states.

At that point, Lyons claimed the other driver got out of his car with a baseball bat and fired a bullet through his own windshield, according to the affidavit. As of Thursday, it was unclear where the bullet landed, but no injuries were reported, according to police.

“(Lyons) stated that he did this because he was afraid of being attacked with the bat, but pointed the gun away from the victim,” the arrest report states. The other man got back in his car and drove down a dead end street, and Lyons followed him again. Both men then got out of their vehicles.

“(Lyons) pointed a handgun at (the man) and ordered him to lie on the ground,” the affidavit states.

Instead, the man got back in his car and drove to the Chevron at Salt Lake City International Airport, where police responded.

When officers began investigating, they determined that the other driver was not drunk and did not have the odor of alcohol on his breath. In addition, no bat was found in the man’s vehicle, police said.

For this reason, Lyons was arrested.

“Unfortunately, cases of road violence like those alleged here can absolutely threaten our community and endanger lives,” Salt Lake City Police Chief Mike Brown said in a statement. “The allegations in this case are serious and I appreciate the thoroughness of our officers in investigating this case.”