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RUSKIN, Fla. (WFLA) — A man was taken into custody following a road rage incident in Ruskin in which deputies said one driver fired a flare gun and the other took out a baseball bat.
The incident happened around 10 a.m. on Thursday, March 6, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies said both drivers came to a stop at a red light at the intersection of South U.S. Highway 41 and West College Avenue.
That’s when 47-year-old Leonard Cako got out of his vehicle and approached the other driver while holding an aluminum baseball bat, investigators reported.
Video taken by a witness showed Cako reaching into the elderly man’s car. According to the sheriff’s office, Cako began to strike and grab the man, at which point he fired a flare gun to defend himself.
The flare hit Cako, who then could be seen bashing the victim’s vehicle with the baseball bat.
Detectives said they determined that Cako was the primary aggressor in the incident.
He was arrested and charged with burglary of a conveyance with assault or battery, aggravated assault involving a victim over 65, and criminal mischief over $1,000.
“This is another example of how quickly road rage can escalate. There’s no excuse for a driver to get out of their car and assault and threaten another driver,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said. “I’m glad we were able to make sure this suspect will suffer the consequences of his actions.”