LITCHFIELD, Conn. — Two men were arrested in Litchfield following a road rage incident early Tuesday afternoon, Connecticut State Police reported.
Jordan Millette, 25, of Waterbury, was charged with second-degree breach of peace and third-degree assault, while Howard Vazquez, 48, of Torrington, was charged with second-degree assault, second-degree breach of peace, second-degree reckless endangerment, and reckless driving, according to state police.
State police said troopers assigned to Troop L responded to Route 8 northbound near Exit 41 in Litchfield around 12:09 p.m. Tuesday for a reported disturbance after a caller said an altercation occurred on the highway.
The caller indicated that the driver of a Ford Explorer allegedly pepper sprayed an individual in a second vehicle and provided dispatchers with the Massachusetts license plate displayed on the Explorer, state police said.
A responding trooper stopped the Explorer on Route 8 northbound, north of Exit 42, according to state police, who said the driver was identified as Vazquez. He was detained in handcuffs during the on-scene investigation based on the allegations and in the interest of safety, state police said.
Vazquez explained to troopers that, while traveling on Route 8 northbound near Exit 37, he observed a Chevy Impala driving erratically and making frequent lane changes, state police said, noting that Vazquez activated his hazard lights and drove alongside the Impala, imploring it to slow down.
State police said Vazquez further explained that, in response, the front seat passenger of the Impala threw water at him, so he pulled in front of the Impala, stopped in the left lane and exited his Explorer.
Vazquez said, as he exited the Explorer, he was confronted by the front seat passenger of the Impala, who struck him in the face, according to state police.
In response, Vazquez pepper sprayed the passenger and then continued driving northbound on Route 8, according to state police, who observed that Vazquez’s pants and shirt were damp and discovered the pepper spray device in the Explorer.
At a separate location, state police said troopers met with the operator of the Impala and his passenger, Millette. Both the driver and Millette alleged that the Explorer had been operating erratically and was intentionally braking abruptly as well as blocking the Impala from passing, according to state police.
State police said Millette admitted that he threw water at the Explorer, contacting its driver.
Both the Impala driver and Millette explained to the troopers that while at a stop in the left lane, the Explorer’s driver left their vehicle, approached the Impala and sprayed them with pepper spray before returning to his vehicle, state police said.
Millette admitted to swinging at the driver of the Explorer but was unsure if he made contact because there was pepper spray in his eyes, according to state police.
Millette declined to be transported to the hospital, state police said.
According to state police, both Vazquez and Millette were placed under arrest and charged.
They were both released on $2,500 cash/surety bonds and are scheduled for arraignment on May 17 at Torrington Superior Court, state police said.
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Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
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