Road Rage: Man sprays driver in face with pepper spray after waiting too long at toll booth

Posted by
1 min read
January 9, 2017

On Friday, December 30, 2016, at 2:24 p.m., Officers Michael Hein and Jeffrey Slota responded to the parking lot of 701 Lacey Road in Forked River, in reference to a road rage incident. The complainant reported that he was stopped in the Garden State Parkway toll plaza for southbound exit 74 when the driver behind him became agitated with how long he was stopped at the toll booth.

The driver behind him began to excessively honk his car horn. The complainant further reported that he allowed the other vehicle to go around him. After proceeding through the toll, the complainant traveled east on Lacey Road when he came to a complete stop for the red traffic signal at the intersection of Lacey Road and Deerhead Lake Drive.

The complainant advised that the driver of the same vehicle pulled into the parking lot of 701 Lacey Road and exited his vehicle.

The driver then approached his stopped vehicle at the traffic signal and sprayed him in the face with pepper spray. The suspect then got back into his vehicle and fled the scene. The suspect is described as a white male, approximately 50 to 60 years old, 5’ 8” tall, 240 pounds, with dirty blond hair and a gray beard. The vehicle is described as a dark colored sport utility vehicle. The victim refused medical treatment. The incident is under investigation.

 

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

Don't Miss