Road Rage Attacker Arrested Post-Punch May 17

WARWICK, RI — Officer Gian MIcheletti arrested a North Kingstown man May 17 at 7:30 p.m. near Little Red Hen School, 358 Old Forge Road, after the road rage attacker admitted punching a fellow driver after striking his car while trying to pass it on the right.

MIcheletti reported receiving a call about a two-car crash near the school, receiving an update from dispatch as he drove that one of the drivers had assaulted the other, punching him in the face.

Road Rage Attacker Admits Punching Driver

MIcheletti arrived at the scene of the crash and spoke with the person reporting the assault, the victim, who said he  had been driving north on Post Road when the driver, later identified as Richard Harris, 53, of 5 State St., Apt. 5J, North Kingstown, RI, began tailing him. When he took a ramp onto Old Forge Road, Harris followed, pulling into the breakdown lane to pass him on the right. Harris then swerved left, striking his right front bumper.

Both drivers pulled over after the collision. With both cars stopped, Harris got out of his car, walked to the victim’s driver’s side window, which was open, and punched the driver three times in the left side of his face. Harris then took several photos of the damage to each vehicle and returned to his car.

MIcheletti reported the victim had a bruised and swollen left eye. The victim said he wanted to press charges against Harris.

The officer next spoke with Harris, who admitted to him that after the crash he struck the other driver in the face. He said prior to the crash, the other driver had been driving aggressively, brake checking him. The crash occurred as he was trying to move ahead of the other driver’s car to avoid being brake checked, Harris said.

MIcheletti arrested Harris and transported him to Warwick Police Headquarters, 99 Veterans Memorial Drive, where he was charged with simple assault and battery, and cited for overtaking on the right.  The other driver was cited for brake-checking Harris.