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Up until he allegedly shot at a Utah Highway Patrol trooper, Damion Johon Williams had compiled a long, but relatively minor criminal record.

But last Friday, troopers say Williams' criminal career took a serious and potentially deadly turn.

A trooper had pulled over a woman for reckless driving on west Interstate 215 near 3300 South. The woman — who was reportedly driving a stolen car — resisted arrest and while she and the trooper struggled, Williams allegedly drove by in a Honda, firing once over the officer's head.

On Monday at about 2:15 p.m. Monday, police spotted Williams jumping into a Mazda Protege with three other people and began pursuit. During the chase, the suspects crashed into three other vehicles at 4500 South and 500 East. Williams and the driver attempted to flee, but were taken into custody after a brief foot chase.

Williams was found to be armed with a .25-caliber pistol. The firearm, allegedly recovered from Williams' pocket, appeared to have had its serial number removed, UHP said.

No injuries were reported from the crashes. The passengers in the car told police that Williams had ordered them at gunpoint to flee from officers.

In addition to UHP troopers, Unified Police and Metro Gangs Unit officers were involved in apprehending Williams.

Williams initially refused to speak with investigators, but later Monday afternoon asked to talk with detectives to tell them he had shot at the trooper last Friday only to scare him, UHP said.

However, a probable cause statement filed by arresting officers noted that passengers in the car that Williams allegedly commandeered told investigators that he had bragged about the shooting. They quoted him as saying, "I was trying to kill that mother******."

On Tuesday, Williams, 25-year-old Texas native who also goes by the street names of "Little Brother" and "Kwik," was being held in the Salt Lake County jail without bail.

Williams was booked on suspicion of numerous felonies including attempted aggravated murder, possession of a firearm by a restricted person, fleeing police, aggravated robbery, burglary and aggravated kidnapping.

Williams also had active arrest warrants for vehicle burglary and joyriding, UHP Sgt. Todd Royce said.

Third District Court records show charges going back seven years for Williams, ranging from vehicle break-ins and theft to fleeing police officers on several occasions, and he has spent time in prison for failure to stop for police and joyriding.

In December 2009, he had been ordered to complete a zero-to-five-year prison sentence after his probation on earlier theft and joyriding guilty pleas was revoked.

Twitter: @remims