There are plenty of road rage stories that end with someone getting arrested. It’s far less common for one to end with a family being spun off the road by what deputies described as a full PIT maneuver.
According to the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, a 36-year-old Fort Myers man is behind bars after targeting several different drivers during a terrifying road rage incident that ended up in a North Carolina family’s vehicle crashing through a barbed-wire fence. Deputies say the family had no role in provoking the confrontation.
The incident unfolded over the weekend at approximately 7:30 pm near Kanner Highway and Interstate 95. Investigators determined the suspect, identified as Michael Jeffrey Spires, drove aggressively toward two separate vehicles before intentionally striking one of them.
Deputies say Spires first targeted another motorist in the parking lot of a gas station before following her onto the highway. The woman told investigators he attempted to run her off the road while repeatedly flailing his arms and making what she believed were gang signs.
Deputies Say Driver Targeted Multiple Vehicles Before Violent Crash
According to the sheriff’s office, Spires then shifted his attention to a vehicle occupied by a family visiting from North Carolina. Investigators say he attempted to force that vehicle off the roadway before using his own vehicle to perform what deputies described as a PIT maneuver.
A PIT, or Precision Immobilization Technique, is a maneuver law enforcement officers are specially trained to use during certain vehicle pursuits. It involves making controlled contact with another vehicle to cause it to rotate and come to a stop under carefully managed circumstances.
In this case, however, deputies say the maneuver was allegedly carried out by another civilian during a road rage incident.
Family Escaped Injury, Dog Was Reunited With Its Owner
The impact reportedly caused the family’s vehicle to spin out of control, leave the roadway, and crash into a barbed-wire fence. Despite the violent collision, deputies said everyone inside the vehicle escaped without physical injuries.
Deputies also discovered that Spires had a dog inside his vehicle during the incident. After taking him into custody, detectives learned the dog had allegedly been stolen from a former romantic partner. The animal was safely removed from the vehicle and reunited with its owner.
Spires was arrested and booked on charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and child abuse.
Commenters Praise Deputies While Sharing Their Own Road Rage Stories
Several commenters poked fun at the vehicle that the suspect was driving, with one writing, “Hard to look tough in a Chevy Equinox, boy.” Similarly, another person wrote, “Isn’t this dude a little old to be in a gang!”
Others were happy that officers were there to stop the driver, writing, “Thank God they were not injured and thank you MCSO for getting him off the roads.
A road rage driver clipped my daughter on the back corner of the driver’s side bumper, trying to block her from changing lanes, causing her to roll 4 times and go airborne at least once. I thank God every day that she is alive and was not too badly injured, and he was cited for the hit.”
As with all criminal cases, the suspect is considered innocent unless found guilty in a court of law.