Road rage witness...

[sfpcservice]

Hey folks,

I witnessed a road rage incident this morning and called in the attackers info. Got a call a couple hours later and the officer said the victim called but didnt know who attacked him so I gave him the plate and a description which felt nice being able to help the victim out.

My question is what usually happens to the attackers? This guy punched the victim 5-6 times. Does the victim have to press charges and if so what would the punishment likely be?

[wpod]

As a truck driver I travel 150,000 miles a year. I see "interactions" almost daily.
Interesting one was in the early 80's in Phoenix. Two guys cutting each other off and yelling at each other. At a red light the one in front got out of his pick-up with a tire iron and headed for the other guy. Other guy gets out with a big, shiny revolver. First guy drops the tire iron and skedaddles back to his truck.
Had an idiot pull a .25 Raven on me when I was on my motorcycle. He told Police I had cut him off in traffic when they picked him up at home.

[lavey29]

Hey folks,

I witnessed a road rage incident this morning and called in the attackers info. Got a call a couple hours later and the officer said the victim called but didnt know who attacked him so I gave him the plate and a description which felt nice being able to help the victim out.

My question is what usually happens to the attackers? This guy punched the victim 5-6 times. Does the victim have to press charges and if so what would the punishment likely be?

Depends on the level of injury to the victim. There are misdemeanor and felony battery sections based mainly on level of injury sustained. If it is a misdemeanor then the victim could do a citizens arrest and the officer would take custody and most likely cite out. If a felony and the victim identifies or they use your witness info then the officer and just make the arrest. Also if they track down the suspect later on just a simple misdemeanor he can always just subsequently get a letter from the agency once the case if filed and the victim is not around any longer. You did the right thing by being a good witness.

[sfpcservice]

Hopefully the guy wasn't an enforcer for the Mexican mafia trying to collect dues. Doh!

That would be a solid case of "no good deed goes unpunished".

[Bobby Ricigliano]

You provided them with workable suspect information, which increases the likelihood of prosecution exponentially. Otherwise the incident might have gone into the whodunit pile.