Man pulls out weapon during aggression in traffic

PORT ST. LUCIE, Florida. – This week, a man was caught on cell phone video pulling out a gun during a driving rage incident in Port St. Lucie.

According to WPBF, a couple told police that the incident began around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday near the intersection of Southwest Heatherwood and Southwest California boulevards.

“The driver of a black Mercedes slowed him down, slammed on his brakes and forced him to stop in the road,” said Leo Niemczyk, deputy police chief of Port St. Lucie.

WPBF reported that the victims attempted to drive around the man, later identified as 63-year-old Paul Slane, but he continued to follow them.

“We haven't been able to determine exactly what caused him to do it,” Niemczyk said. “But who knows? It could have been a bad day. His goldfish could have died.”

According to the victims, Slane followed them into their gated community and to their home.

“At their house, the vehicle pulled in front of them, slammed on the brakes again, forced the victim to stop and exited his vehicle with a firearm in his hand,” Niemczyk said.

WPBF reported that at this point the wife began recording the incident.

In the video, Slane can be heard shouting profanities at the couple as he approaches the couple's car with a gun in his hand. At one point, he reaches through the driver's side window and punches the driver before attempting to take the woman's phone.

According to police, the husband had his own gun on his lap, but neither man fired any shots.

Slane was arrested on two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, and one count of robbery with a firearm.

He has been held without bail in the St. Lucie County Jail since Thursday morning.