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Staff Report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – In a dramatic turn of events, David Conrad Waddell, 43, from Cape Coral, found himself in handcuffs yesterday after allegedly attempting to run over three individuals during a road rage incident.
The chaotic scene unfolded around 5:48 p.m. on March 13, when an officer from the Gainesville Police Department was dispatched to the 1600 block of SW 16th Avenue. Witnesses and victims recounted a road rage episode that escalated into a collision. Although accounts differed slightly on the sequence of events, it was reported that one victim was struck by Waddell’s vehicle and retaliated by shattering one of his car windows with a crowbar. Waddell is accused of repeatedly trying to hit three people with his car during the incident.
The first victim described confronting Waddell following the crash. Waddell allegedly drove off, only to return and attempt to strike all three individuals with his vehicle. During this altercation, the first victim claimed to have been hit by Waddell’s car, landing on the hood and damaging the windshield while attempting to get off. In retaliation, he grabbed a crowbar and smashed the rear driver-side window of Waddell’s car as he made another pass. The officer at the scene noted a minor cut on the first victim’s hand, with a bloody handprint left on Waddell’s vehicle.
The second victim supported the first victim’s account, stating that after the initial confrontation, Waddell drove recklessly in circles around them, seemingly aiming to hit them. The second victim observed the first victim being hit and sliding onto the hood before falling off. When Waddell circled back and came to a stop, the first victim reportedly used the crowbar to break the car window.
The third victim reportedly provided a similar account.
Post Miranda, Waddell reportedly said that after the crash, all the cars pulled into a turn lane, and he stayed in his car while the first victim approached, slammed his hands on Waddell’s car, yelled, and tried to open the door. Waddell said he pushed the first victim back with the door several times before the first victim grabbed a crowbar and smashed one of his windows, which prompted him to drive away. He said that when the victims approached his wife, who was in a separate car, he returned, and the first victim jumped on his hood and punched the windshield, cracking it. He said he only circled back twice.
Waddell’s wife reportedly said she and a passenger watched the altercation between Waddell and the victims to make sure her husband was okay, but she did not recall seeing a crowbar, and she did not say anything about a crowbar being used. She also said she didn’t recall the victims approaching her during the incident.
The passenger in Waddell’s wife’s car reportedly gave a similar account and said she saw the first victim try to open Waddell’s car door.
Other witnesses reportedly said they saw Waddell driving erratically, making U-turns in traffic and almost causing several accidents. They all reportedly said it looked like Waddell was trying to hit the victims with his vehicle and the victims had to run away to avoid being hit. One witness said the victims never approached Waddell’s wife; instead, they ran away from her car while avoiding being hit by Waddell. Several of the witnesses reportedly said that the first victim intentionally jumped on Waddell’s car while it was completely stopped.
The officer reported that after weighing all of the accounts and “weighing the independent witnesses’ accounts heavily,” he believed that Waddell intentionally drove his car in a reckless and threatening manner, causing the victims to fear for their safety.
Waddell has been charged with three counts of aggravated assault. His full criminal history is currently unavailable, but he served one prison sentence for manslaughter out of Lee County and was released in 2003; Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $225,000.
Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.