Pierce County prosecutors are sorting out a road rage incident in Bonney Lake which the driver of one vehicle pulled a gun on another vehicle.
Bonney Lake police on May 11 were dispatched to the 18300 block of Sumner Buckley Highway after several callers to 911 reported seeing the gun. Multiple officers and detectives responded to the scene. Three people were detained for questioning before being released at the scene.
According to the police report, the incident began as a road rage incident as an SUV and a car were traveling east on state Route 410 approaching Sumner-Buckley Highway.
After the incident on the road, the SUV containing a driver and a passenger followed the car into a parking lot and got out of his vehicle to confront the driver of the car about his driving, at which time the driver of the car allegedly pointed a loaded handgun at him.
All three people involved provided statements to the police.
According to the driver of the SUV, she saw the vehicle in question weaving in and out of traffic and had to slam on her brakes to avoid hitting it and followed the vehicle into a parking lot to ask the driver if he was drunk.
She admitted to being very angry and yelling at the other driver and then followed him to another parking lot where the two driver continued yelling at each other from their vehicles.
At that time, the passenger in the SUV got out and approached the car in an attempt, he told police, to get the license plate number. As he approached the driver of the car rolled down his window and pointed a gun at him and told him he would “drop” him. The passenger then went back to the SUV and called the police.
According to the driver of the car, the SUV was driving erratically and after it followed him into the second parking lot, where the passenger in the SUV approached his car while yelling at him. The car driver told police he decided to “teach him a really good lesson” and told the passenger he had a concealed pistol permit and did not want any trouble.
When the passenger told the car driver to get out of his vehicle and fight, the car driver picked up his gun and held it so the other man could see it.
The driver of the car told police he believed the passenger’s behavior scared him and he was therefore justified in holding up his gun.
A records search showed the driver of the car had a concealed weapons permit and was legally carrying the gun, a loaded Glock 17 9mm.
As the investigation continued, Bonney Lake police decided all subjects would be released and report would be forwarded to the prosecutor for review.
Bonney Lake police are recommending a charge of second-degree assault for the driver of the car.
