Alleged Gun Brandished in Traffic Scuffle, One Arrested

A weapon was allegedly brandished last night in an incident of road rage, ending in one arrest, according to a report in the Mercury News.  

Shortly after 9 p.m. Saturday, a 26-year-old man was driving his jeep on Main Street when he almost collided with another car. The other car contained a couple, and the man, 30, honked his horn. The jeep then became retaliatory, pulling up alongside of the couple and shouting "derogatory statements" and brandished a "semi-automatic revolver," according to the Mercury News report.

A CHP officer was nearby and witnessed the entire exchange, according to Sgt. Monahan of the California Highway Patrol.

"When he [the CHP officer] pulled up to talk to the victims, the suspects began to drive away," said Monahan.

The couple, whose car make was not disclosed, told the CHP officer that the passenger in the jeep had brandished a gun, according to Mercury News. Watsonville Police Department was notified and helped to pull over the Jeep on Green Valley Road.

No weapon was found.

"In between those two incidents happening we believe the weapon was thrown away," said Monahan, who later added, "we're not even sure if there was an actual gun."

The make of the gun is unknown, and CHP was not sure if it had been pointed at the couple or just flashed. Monahan pointed out that the "semi-automatic revolver" reported in the Mercury News is actually two different kinds of guns.

"It's either semi-automatic, or it's a revolver," said Monahan.

The Watsonville Police Deparment arrested the 26-year-old driver of the Jeep but the passenger who had allegedly brandished the gun fled the scene on foot and could not be found, according to the Mercury News.

Monahan does not know if the incident was gang related, but said that the officers knew the suspects from prior contacts.

The driver of the Jeep was arrested on suspicion of brandishing a gun, driving on a suspended license, illegal possession of ammunition, and violating his probation terms, according to Mercury News. 

Sgt. Cervantes of the CHP led of the traffice stop, according to Sgt. Tony Magdayao of the Watsonville Police Department.

"One of them [the victims] identified the driver as the man who brandished the gun and he was taken into custody," said Magdayao, who says information on the passenger is unknown.

"As far as I can tell it was kind of like a road rage thing it sounded like," said Magdayao.