Utah man arrested for brandishing firearm in Summit County road rage incident

Photo: Utah Highway Patrol

SUMMIT COUNTY, Utah — A Utah man was released on court-ordered conditions Monday following his arrest for allegedly brandishing a firearm during a road rage incident on Interstate 80 near Echo Canyon.

Robert Andrew Phillips, 42, was released by Summit District Court Judge Richard Mrazik following his arrest on Sunday for aggravated assault, reckless driving, and driving with expired vehicle registration.

According to the arresting officer’s affidavit, “Summit County Dispatch received a report of a road rage incident that had started near milepost 184 westbound on I-80. The caller reported a vehicle that had been aggressively driving around the victim in an attempt to run them off the road.”

Officer Christopher Hunt of the Utah Highway Patrol stated in his report that “as the situation escalated, the driver of the reckless vehicle pulled a pistol out of his center console and pointed it in the direction of the victim and their vehicle.”

The incident occurred Sunday afternoon, with Phillips being arrested at approximately 4:40 p.m. after the officer located his vehicle near milepost 168 on Interstate 80.

“While speaking with the suspect, he stated that he had pointed his pistol at the other vehicle and that they had both been road raging,” Hunt wrote in his affidavit. “The victim provided video evidence of the incident and the suspect was taken into custody and booked into Summit County Jail.”

Judge Mrazik’s order states Phillips must “promise to appear for all required court proceedings” and “promise to not commit any criminal offense.” Additionally, he must “avoid contact with the victim(s) of the alleged offense” and “forfeit or refrain from possession of a firearm or other dangerous weapon.”

The aggravated assault charge is listed as a third-degree felony, while reckless driving is a class A misdemeanor and the registration violation is an infraction, according to court documents.

Phillips was booked into the Summit County Sheriff’s Office at 7:55 p.m. Sunday evening.