Cape man facing charges in alleged road rage incident
A Cape Coral man is facing charges after police said a road rage incident led to an assault.
Thomas Coyle, 31, has been charged with one count of burglary with assault or battery, one count of battery on specified personnel, and one count of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.
According to Cape Coral Police Department officials, on Nov. 26 around 4:20 p.m., officers responded to a disturbance in the area of Chiquita Boulevard and Gleason Parkway.
According to police, officers spoke to the reporting party, who said he had driven around a white Jeep and moved into another lane, but did not “cut off” the vehicle. The reporting party told police shortly after, he noticed the Jeep behind him, continuously honking.
CCPD officials said both drivers pulled over, and the Jeep’s driver, Coyle, approached the reporting party’s driver-side window.
“When the man rolled his window down, Coyle began yelling at him and then threw multiple punches to the left side of his face,” CCPD officials stated in a release. “The man then attempted to open his vehicle door while still being struck by Coyle. He yelled for Coyle to stop and was finally able to get his door open. He pushed Coyle back in self-defense. Officers arrived and separated the two.”
Police officials state that Coyle then returned to his Jeep and intentionally rammed it into the other man’s vehicle, causing it to strike the victim and knock him to the ground. The collision also caused damage to the victim’s vehicle.
CCPD officials said Coyle’s passenger told officers the other driver had cut them off, causing Coyle to become irate and approach the vehicle; she stated she did not witness any physical altercation.
Police added that a witness reported seeing Coyle punch the victim through the car window, and that another witness told officers they saw Coyle intentionally drive forward and ram the victim’s vehicle.
“LCEMS arrived to assess both parties. While being treated, Coyle grabbed a medic’s wrist and shoved him,” CCPD’s release stated.
After being medically cleared, Coyle was taken to the Lee County Jail. He has since been released on a $30,000 bond.
To reach CJ HADDAD, please email cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com