In what is being termed as the Lake Wales Coach Road Rage Incident, Don Wayne Wise Jr., the football coach from Lake Wales High School in Florida, is now facing charges. Wise is accused of brandishing a gun during a road rage event that occurred on June 18.
The victims reported to the Polk County Sheriff’s Department that a man, driving a blue Nissan Rogue, drew a firearm on them at a stoplight. The suspect allegedly had been recklessly merging into the victims’ lane repeatedly. He reportedly pointed the weapon at the victims for an alarming 30 seconds, exclaiming, “You pulled into my lane twice.”
The event did not escalate any further according to the report. The detectives were able to locate the suspect’s vehicle by tracing its license plate, which led them to Wise. On confronting Wise at his residence, he seemed visibly disturbed.
Wise negated the claims of the road rage incident but acknowledged his presence in the mentioned location — Cypress Gardens Blvd. — on the day of the incident. He also confessed to owning a firearm, which he revealed to the detectives by lifting his shirt.
The victims recognized Wise from a photo lineup as the individual who had threatened them with the gun. Consequently, he was apprehended.
According to the arrest report, Wise demonstrated non-cooperation during the arrest procedure, even to the extent of refusing to sit in the police car. This defiance led to a charge of resisting arrest, in addition to three counts of aggravated assault with a firearm.
The previous season saw Lake Wales achieve a 15-0 victory and win the 3S District 8 state title by beating Mainland, Daytona Beach, Florida, 32-30.
At the time of reporting, the school has not released any statement. Lake Wales Coach Road Rage incident.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd made a public statement concerning the 33-year-old football coach, “Coaches are supposed to be mentors and models for appropriate conduct. Losing your cool while driving and then brandishing a firearm is the complete opposite. I’m proud of my detectives for their quick work to apprehend the man responsible.”
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