A 19-year-old Festus man was arrested June 12 shortly after he allegedly displayed a pellet gun in a road-rage incident, Festus Police Chief Tim Lewis said today (June 16).
The suspect and the victim, a 27-year-old man, live in the same neighborhood, but are not acquainted with each other, Lewis said.
At 5:15 p.m., officers responded to the area near North Seventh Street and Ridge Avenue in reference to “a subject flourishing a gun,” Lewis said.
“The victim said he was driving in a Toyota Camry and was stopped at an intersection near Majik Market (103 Walnut St.) and waited for a pedestrian to cross the street, Lewis said. “The suspect yelled at (the victim) to go and then drove close to his bumper when they pulled away. At some point, the victim got away from the suspect.”
However, when the victim got home, the suspect arrived there, too, and pointed a gun at the victim, who ran away, Lewis said.
“He (the victim) gave us a good description and told us where he thought the suspect lives,” Lewis said.
The suspect was driving a Chrysler PT Cruiser, Lewis said.
Officers soon located the suspect and arrested him.
“They recovered two black pellet guns from him that look just like real guns,” Lewis said.
He said the pellet guns easily could be taken for lethal weapons.
The suspect was released pending application for warrants.
Festus Police will seek charges against the suspect for second-degree assault with firearms, armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon, Lewis said.