A Utah Highway Patrol trooper arrested a 30-year-old man in Summit County after the suspect admitted to brandishing and firing a handgun during a road rage incident on Interstate 80. Tyler Asay was taken into custody after officials determined he is a restricted person and found additional firearms and alcohol in his vehicle.
Road Rage Incident on I-80
The arrest followed a report to dispatchers regarding a black Mazda that was tailgating a vehicle near Interstate 80 mile marker 146. According to an arrest document, the complainant reported that the Mazda drove up next to the vehicle occupied by the caller and a second person, then pointed a handgun directly at them. The caller stated that he and his cousin ducked as they heard a shot go off.
Trooper Arrests Suspect
A Utah Highway Patrol trooper located and stopped Asay at mile marker 126 on Interstate 80. At the time of the stop, Asay was operating a vehicle with two passengers. The trooper reported finding a black handgun in Asay's possession during the encounter.
Admission of Weapon Use
During questioning, Asay admitted to brandishing his weapon. He also admitted to firing the weapon into the air in a show of force toward the other driver because he had been cut off. A records check performed by the Summit County Dispatch center revealed that Asay is a restricted person.
Illegal Items Found in Vehicle
A search of the vehicle conducted by the trooper led to the discovery of three additional firearms and an open alcohol container. Investigators noted that one of the firearms had a serial number that had been filed off, showing obvious file marks. Asay admitted to owning the firearm with the filed-off serial number and admitted to being the individual drinking from the open container.
Criminal Charges and Booking
Asay was booked into jail following the investigation. He faces several charges, including two counts of aggravated assault—road rage, which is a second-degree felony. Additional charges include prohibited dangerous weapon (category II), a class A misdemeanor; unlawful alteration of an identifying mark on a handgun, a class A misdemeanor; and open container/drinking alcohol in a vehicle, a class C misdemeanor.
Incident Overview
The incident involving the black Mazda and the subsequent arrest of Asay highlights the dangers of armed confrontations on major transit corridors like Interstate 80 in Summit County.
