An obviously agitated motorist's recent interaction with another driver commuting to work near Loganville makes the media assertion that the upset driver "likely didn't know the other driver was a Gwinnett County sheriff's deputy" a bit of an understatement.
Deputy Paul Frederick was driving to the police station in his own car around 11 p.m. on a mid-April evening when his work shift suddenly started early. He noticed another driver -- who was eventually charged with reckless driving and a number of other criminal offenses -- approaching rapidly behind him.
"He then drove up beside me," Frederick said, "and tried to collide into my vehicle."
According to the police report, the driver did much more than that, swerving in multiple attempts to hit Frederick's car.
"I made every attempt to avoid the situation, slowing down, stopping and he still tried to run into my vehicle," Frederick said.
As soon as he could, the officer called police dispatch, and county police officers eventually stopped the motorist.
What they say they found upon searching the driver and his vehicle was totally unexpected. The man -- a convicted felon -- had a loaded and cocked gun in the car. Police say that they also found marijuana, black gloves and Tasers.
In addition to the driving charge, the man was also charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, probation violation and marijuana possession.
Related Resource: Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Felon with road rage picks on deputy" April 15, 2011
