A Harwinton man was charged after allegedly threatening another driver with a shotgun during a road rage incident Thursday, state police said.
Kenneth Mack, 64, is charged with second-degree breach of peace and first-degree threatening for displaying a firearm, according to the Connecticut State Police.
On Thursday around 2:37 p.m., Troop L in Litchfield received a report of a road rage incident in the area of Route 4 and Birge Park Road in Harwinton. At first, the adult making the 911 call expressed that they did not wish to meet with a trooper, state police said.
Due to the allegations, troopers reached back out to the complainant who agreed to meet with state police to provide more information about the incident.
The complainant explained that they were traveling in their vehicle behind a red or maroon-colored Dodge Ram pickup truck on Route 4 in Harwinton, approaching Birge Park Road, when the pickup truck abruptly came to a stop. The complainant told troopers they were able to avoid colliding with the pickup truck and said they witnessed the pickup truck driver making hand gestures from the window, according to state police.
The complainant said both vehicles resumed traveling on Route 4 when the pickup truck driver brake-checked them several times. The complainant then alleged that the pickup truck driver lifted up a shotgun and pointed it out the window in their direction. The complainant gave investigators a detailed description of the pickup truck, including its license plate number and a description of the driver, state police said.
Troopers learned that the license plate number was associated with a red Dodge Ram pickup truck, registered to Mack. A second inquiry revealed that Mack’s driver’s license photo was consistent with the description of the driver that was provided by the complainant, according to state police.
A trooper then drove by Mack’s residence and reportedly saw a pickup truck matching the description parked in the driveway, state police said. Shortly afterward, state police made contact with Mack at the home, where he was detained in handcuffs.
Mack agreed to speak with investigators about the allegations and denied carrying a gun in his truck, according to state police. He did acknowledge he owned firearms, including a shotgun, state police said.
When asked about the alleged road rage incident, Mack reportedly told state police an incident took place involving the exchange of hand gestures and words only. Mack told investigators he felt he had to defend himself but did not provide further details, according to state police.
Search warrants were authorized by the court for Mack’s home and his truck, state police said. During the search, two firearms were reportedly located and seized in Mack’s home, one of which was a 12-gauge shotgun, according to state police.
Mack was placed under arrest and transported to Troop L, where he was processed and charged. He was held in lieu of a $1 million bond and transported to the New Haven Correctional Center pending Friday’s scheduled court appearance at Torrington Superior Court.
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