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KEY TAKEAWAYS
- A Wyoming man, Michael Earl Roloff, was arrested for investigation of a road rage shooting.
- Roloff allegedly fired at another vehicle on U.S. 40.
- He admitted having a temper and poor conflict resolution skills, police say.
VERNAL — A Wyoming man who allegedly told police he has “a problematic temper and poor conflict resolution skills” was arrested after troopers say he fired several rounds at another vehicle during a road-rage confrontation.
Michael Earl Roloff, 48, was booked into the Uintah County Jail on Sunday for investigation of two counts of aggravated assault, shooting in the direction of a person, obstruction, reckless driving and illegal firing of a gun. All the counts come with a road-rage penalty enhancement if convicted. He was also arrested for investigation of having an expired license.
On Sunday, about 12:20 p.m., Roloff, who lives in Wyoming and works in Colorado, was traveling through Utah on U.S. 40 when he fired three or four rounds at another vehicle, according to a police booking affidavit.
“When I was talking to the victims, they described to me that they were traveling eastbound on state Route 40 just past the Jensen Green River bridge (and passing a van), when a silver pickup was right behind them tailgating them. The victims described that the vehicle then went into the oncoming westbound lane to pass them,” a Utah Highway Patrol trooper wrote in the affidavit.
After passing the other vehicle, Roloff pulled over to the right shoulder. The other vehicle also pulled over to talk to him. Roloff then got out of his truck and “fired approximately three to four rounds in their direction before any words were exchanged. The driver took cover at the front of his vehicle, and the passenger said he began yelling at the suspect,” according to the affidavit.
Roloff then drove off, and the victims followed so they could get a picture of his license plate, the affidavit states.
After talking to the victims and tracing the registered owner of the pickup, troopers were able to call Roloff, who was in Craig, Colorado, by that point, and told him to turn around and meet them in Jensen, according to the affidavit.
Troopers say a shell casing was recovered from the area where the victims claimed they were shot at, according to the affidavit.
While being questioned by the trooper, Roloff allegedly admitted “he does have a problematic temper and poor conflict-resolution skills,” the affidavit states.
Correction: A previous version incorrectly called the road state Route 40.
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