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The Utah Highway Patrol is investigating whether a man arrested after exchanging gunfire with Davis County sheriff's deputies Wednesday night also fired shots on Interstate 215 earlier this week.
Utah Highway Patrol Cpl. Todd Johnson confirmed Thursday that troopers would be meeting with Davis County investigators about 37-year-old Marco Antonio Guizar, who was charged in 2nd District Court following a high-speed chase and shootout on Legacy Highway in Farmington.
Guizar was being held in the Davis County jail Thursday without bail, charged with first-degree felony aggravated attempted murder; three counts of second-degree felony aggravated assault; third-degree felony failure to stop for police; and misdemeanor counts of possession of a dangerous weapon with intent to assault, and interference with an arresting officer. Guizar also was being held on a detention order issued by the Federal Immigration and Naturalization Service.
On Wednesday night, Guizar shot at a vehicle on Legacy Highway while traveling northbound in a blue Toyota with Texas plates, according to charging documents.
He then exited into Farmington where a Davis County deputy attempted to stop him. For about five minutes he evaded police by driving through a residential neighborhood to 650 West and State Street where he purposely crashed his car into another vehicle occupied by two juveniles, charging documents state.
After crashing into the youths' vehicle, he grabbed his handgun and fired at least two rounds at a Farmington detective who was approaching, according to charges.
Officers returned fire. No one was injured. A .40-caliber Glock handgun was found in Guizar's vehicle.
Police said when they interviewed Guizar he admitted he had shot at vehicles in Salt Lake County before Wednesday night's incident, according to charges.
UHP has been looking for a suspect matching Guizar's description, also driving a car with Texas plates, who fired on a white pickup on I-215 Tuesday afternoon. No one was injured in that shooting, either.
Johnson said UHP also was working with Salt Lake City police to see if the I-215 and Farmington shootings may be related to a similar non-injury shooting incident on 1200 West near 650 North in Salt Lake City on Saturday night.
Utah Department of Corrections spokesman Steve Gehrke said that between 2002 and 2009, Guizar served prison time for discharging a firearm, tampering with a witness or juror, possession or purchase of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person and aggravated assault.
Gehrke said Guizar had been paroled three times and was sent back to prison for parole violations in each case.
Tribune reporter Janelle Stecklein contributed to this story.