Palm Beach police on Wednesday arrested a West Palm Beach man who they say pointed a gun at a woman during a road rage incident that afternoon.
The incident highlights the tension among motorists traveling between downtown West Palm Beach and the island, as bumper-to-bumper traffic has led to major traffic jams for motorists trying to travel over the Royal Park Bridge. Officials have appealed for civility and patience as they work to ease traffic congestion.
The incident began before 2 p.m. Wednesday on northbound Flagler Drive near the Bristol condominium in West Palm Beach, on the west side of the Royal Park Bridge, an arrest report said.
A Lake Park woman told police she was in the right lane, and the 78-year-old West Palm Beach man was in the left lane in his black BMW. When the man pulled his car too close to hers as their vehicles headed east onto the Royal Park Bridge, the woman honked, police said.
That’s when police say the man held up a gray revolver and pointed it at the roof of his car.
Palm Beach police arrested a man Wednesday afternoon after they say he threatened a woman with a gun during a road rage incident.
The woman told police she tried to take a photo of the man’s car as they drove next to each other again on Royal Palm Way. This time, the man pointed the gun up and then at the woman, the arrest report said.
The pair then drove to the Palm Beach Police Department on South County Road, where they spoke with officers.
The man told police he kept the gray revolver in the front passenger seat of his BMW and not in a suitcase.
The arrest report stated that when the man parked in front of the police station, his car was partially on South County Road and a gray revolver was in plain view on the front passenger seat.
The man was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill, and improperly displaying a firearm in “a rude, careless, angry and threatening manner, not necessarily in self-defense.” He was released from the Palm Beach County Jail on $16,000 bail Thursday afternoon.
The incident happened as the city was working to mitigate the effects of rapid growth and congestion between downtown West Palm Beach and the island.
Officials are also exploring ways to reduce traffic congestion in the city.
When asked what advice he would share with drivers, Palm Beach Police Department spokesman Capt. Will Rothrock said, “As a reminder, be patient and conscientious while driving and avoid confrontations whenever possible.”
Those experiencing a suspected incident of road rage can call the Palm Beach Police Department’s non-emergency number at (561) 838-5454, or if it is an emergency, call 911, Rothrock said.
Kristina Webb is a reporter for the Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at kwebb@pbdailynews.com. Subscribe today to support our journalism.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Palm Beach Police: Man pointed gun at woman during road rage incident
