By PoliceOne Staff

SALT LAKE CITY — A truck driver is being recognized after subduing a man who attacked a trooper and reached for the LEO’s firearm.

Darren Phillips was en route from Salt Lake City to Wyoming Thursday when he saw an altercation between a Wyoming State Trooper and a suspect, identified as 36-year-old Dustin Roberts, KSL reports. Phillips parked his 18-wheeler on the side of the road next to the trooper’s patrol vehicle and stepped in.

“I put my brakes on, and I jump out and by this time, the trooper is on his back and the guy is on top of him. The trooper saw me running over and as soon as I got up to him, he says, ‘He’s going for my gun,’” Phillips said.

Phillips said he and Roberts had their hand on the trooper’s gun during the struggle, so Phillips put Roberts in a choke hold.

The truck driver held Roberts until another trooper arrived at the scene. Roberts was eventually taken into custody.

Phillips spent 12 years with the Marine Corps and 14 years with the Utah National Guard. He said his training helped him subdue the man and pull him off the trooper.

“I did two tours in Iraq, and I never had to put a choke hold on anyone. That’s the craziest thing I’ve ever done. After he was handcuffed and they were putting him in the patrol car, as he walks by, he’s like ‘nice choke hold,’” Phillips said.

The trooper sustained minor cuts but is expected to be OK.

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On May 31st, 2018 a Wyoming Highway Patrol trooper stopped a vehicle at milepost 92 on Interstate 80, just east of Green…

Posted by Wyoming Highway Patrol on Friday, June 1, 2018

Wyoming Highway Patrol said in a statement that the trooper initially stopped Roberts for a speeding violation. When the trooper became suspicious of criminal activity, he attempted to detain Roberts, who then ran out into traffic to evade the trooper.

Once the trooper caught up with Roberts, a physical altercation ensued. Wyoming Highway Patrol Lt. Ben Schlosser called Phillips a hero and said he couldn’t thank the veteran enough for helping out, according to the Deseret News.

Troopers found 74 pounds of marijuana and some cocaine in Roberts’ car. He remains in jail and has been charged with several offenses, including interference with a peace officer, according to USA Today.

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