The owner of a vegan restaurant took the law into his own hands when he sprayed a smoker in the face with a fire extinguisher.
A video of the incident begins with Alex Jamison urging a smoker to put out his cigarette.
He explains to smoker Jon Bird that the area is for customers enjoying a meal at the vegan eatery.
After a short back and forth in which Mr Bird declines to stub out the smoke, Mr Jamison aims the nozzle of a small red fire extinguisher at the man's face.
He leans forward before a burst of white powder hits him in the nose and eyes.
Mr Bird told a local television station in Salt Lake City, KSL , that he had been volunteering at an arts festival in the city when the incident unfolded.
While Utah law prohibits smoking within 25 feet of the entrance of any business, Mr Bird said he believed he was allowed to smoke in that part of the street.
"He came out with energy of hostility, a fire extinguisher in his hands, and said ‘I told you, you can’t be here,’” he told the station.
“I’m still in shock and awe. I feel dizzy, kind of shaken up that something like this could actually happen.”
In a statement released after the incident Mr Jamison said he felt moved to apologise to Mr Bird because of his vegan beliefs.
"Well I’ll say that I’m not proud of my behavior, I let myself get egged on and I overreacted," he wrote.
"I’m a protective small business owner who has asked hundreds of people not to smoke near our patio in the interest of our customers and our neighbors’ customer.
"I try to be respectful and generally always get good responses. I asked him multiple times during the day to please go to the designated smoking area but should not have reacted to feeling disrespected.
"I certainly owe the other person involved an apology and would like to make it right with him however I need to. I did not mean to cause him any harm.
"Our business is committed to fighting for animal rights and this must include other people. I’m sorry."
A later statement from Mr Jamison made clear that he had resigned from his role as co-founder of three veggie shops in the city.
His retirement package, it claimed, was up to $5,000 donated to several animal rights charities.
For each insult posted on his Facebook page, the company would donate $5.
In the post Mr Jamison wrote: "Hello, I’m Alex Jamison. AKA Mr. Extinguisher. AKA biggest asshole on the planet.
"Look at me. Judge me. Yesterday I was a restauranteur; today I am free.
"Effective today I am no longer an owner of the 3 vegan businesses I co-founded. This is my rebirth."
