Tacoma man arrested after threatening another driver with gun in Grays Harbor County
A driving dispute in Grays Harbor County took a turn when a Tacoma man allegedly threatened another driver with a gun over the weekend.
Hoquiam police were dispatched at about 2 p.m. Sunday to Emerson Avenue and state Route 109 for a reported road-rage incident. They learned from witnesses and victims that a Tacoma man driving a white Mercedes slammed on his brakes, causing westbound traffic to come to stop. He was allegedly upset that the driver behind him, a 35-year-old Montesano woman, pulled over for an ambulance to drive by, according to the Hoquiam Police Department on Facebook.
The man began to yell at her and at one point pulled up his shirt to display a gun, the post said. There were three other passengers in the woman’s car: another woman and 6-year-old and 8-year-old children.
All of the people in the woman’s car appeared shaken, according to video provided to police.
A 28-year-old Aberdeen man who was walking in the area saw the Tacoma man was allegedly armed and very threatening to the women and children. The Aberdeen man tried to calm the man, who allegedly turned on him, the post said.
“The Aberdeen man believed the hostile man was going to assault the female driver or him, so he used minimal force, causing the Tacoma man to go to the ground while asking other bystanders to call 911,” the post said.
The gun was removed and given to the Tacoma man’s female passenger, a 35-year-old woman, the post said. The two quickly drove out of the area and headed west. The woman and 33-year-old man were arrested three hours later.
“With the assistance of the Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Office, the vehicle and suspects were located as they traveled eastbound on Emerson Avenue. Both were taken into custody pending further investigation,” the post said.
Police learned the Tacoma man was prohibited from possessing firearms, the post said. Officers secured his car and applied for a search warrant to recover the gun.
“Although citizen intervention possibly prevented a tragic violent crime in this case, the Hoquiam Police Department does not recommend bystanders insert themselves into these dangerous situations. It is much safer to immediately call 911 and be a good witness,” the post said.
An updated post said that if anyone has original video of the incident, or knows someone who does, to contact Officer Martinez at 360-532-0892.
