POLK COUNTY, FL (352today.com) – Let this story be a lesson. You never know who might be in the car driving next to you. It could be an off-duty state trooper.
A Polk County man is behind bars and the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) has taken possession of firearms as evidence in a case of what they’re calling ‘highway violence.’
The incident happened Sunday, Oct. 29, on SR 570 (Polk Parkway) in Polk County.
FHP says an off-duty trooper was driving on Polk Parkway with family members in his personal vehicle and dressed in civilian attire.
According to a release, the trooper was caught in slow-moving traffic when “a driver in a red Chevy pickup became agitated and began focusing his attention on the trooper.”
They say the man drove alongside the trooper’s vehicle, speeding up and slowing down, yelling and using hand gestures. They say the trooper ignored the man until he slowed down again and pulled out a gun. The report says the man pointed the weapon at the trooper.
That’s when the trooper dialed *FHP and reported the incident.
Several troopers responded to the area. When they couldn’t find the driver, they traced the vehicle to a home in Auburndale.
There troopers found five firearms and arrested 32-year-old Matthew Reiter
They charged him with three counts each of unlawful display of a weapon and aggravated assault with a weapon.