Police department employee shoots driver in road rage incident, Washington cops say

A Seattle Police Department employee filled with road rage pulled a gun from the glove box of his car and shot at a driver, the Washington State Patrol said.

Washington State Patrol said Peter L. Garrido, a 30-year-old civilian employee of the Seattle Police Department, was arrested Monday after shooting a driver during a road rage incident on Interstate 5.

Troopers determined that the victim pulled to the right shoulder Saturday to let Garrido pass and break contact with him, but instead Garrido pulled behind the victim, who approached Garrido’s car, according to a WSP news release.

“The suspect retrieved a handgun from the glove box and as the victim turned to walk away, the suspect fired one shot striking the victim in the abdomen,” Washington State Police said. “The suspect then fled the scene in a 2013 Mazda.”

The victim was taken to a hospital and is in stable condition, police said.

Detectives found that Garrido is a civilian employee of the Seattle Police Department. Civilian employees are hired for a variety of positions, including information technology, working with police records and administrative functions, according to the Seattle Police Department.

Washington State Police did not say Garrido’s exact role at the police department.

Garrido was taken to King County Jail and is being investigated on a charge of assault in the first degree, according to the WSP.