Palm Beach Police on Wednesday arrested a West Palm Beach man who they said 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 backups for drivers trying to travel across the Royal Park Bridge. Officials have pleaded for civility and patience while they are working to mitigate the congestion.
The incident started 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 that she was in the right lane, and the 78-year-old West Palm Beach man was in his black BMW in the left lane. When the man moved his car too close to hers as their vehicles traveled east onto the Royal Park Bridge, the woman honked, police said.
That’s when police said the man held up a gray revolver and pointed it up toward the roof of his car.
Palm Beach Police on Wednesday afternoon arrested a man after they said he threatened a woman with a gun during a road rage incident.
The woman told police that she tried to take a photo of the man’s car when they were side by side again on Royal Palm Way. This time, the man pointed the gun up, and then at at the woman, the arrest report said.
The pair then drove to the Palm Beach Police station on South County Road, where they talked with officers.
The man told police that he kept the gray revolver on the front passenger seat of his BMW and not in a case.
The arrest report noted that when the man parked in front of the police station, his car was partially on South County Road and there was a gray revolver on the front passenger seat in plain view.
The man was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill, and improper exhibition of 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 Thursday afternoon on a $16,000 bond.
The incident happened as the town is working to mitigate the effects of rapid growth and congestion between downtown West Palm Beach and the island.
Officials also are looking at ways to relieve congestion in town.
Asked what advice he would share with drivers, Palm Beach Police spokesman Capt. Will Rothrock said, “As a reminder, please be patient and conscientious when driving and avoid confrontations where possible.”
Those who experience a suspected incident of road rage can call the Palm Beach Police Department’s non-emergency number at (561) 838-5454, or if it’s an emergency, call 911, Rothrock said.
Kristina Webb is a reporter for 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