A driver pointed a handgun with a red laser at another motorist during a road rage confrontation on Interstate 35 in Carlton County, prosecutors say.
Dayvon Damonta Ford, 24, of Carlton, faces six charges: second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, carrying a pistol without a permit in a public place, threats of violence, recklessly handling a dangerous weapon, reckless driving and driving without a valid license.
According to the complaint, law enforcement received a report at about 10:50 a.m. on September 6 from a driver who said a grey Honda Civic had pulled alongside him on the shoulder of southbound I-35 near mile marker 227. The victim told officers that after he passed slow-moving traffic and returned to the right lane, the Honda sped up, cut in front of him, then slowed so the vehicles were side by side.
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The victim reported seeing the driver roll down the front passenger window and point a black compact handgun with a red laser directly at him.
Troopers spotted a vehicle matching the description about 25 minutes later, following it onto west Highway 23 and into the parking lot of the Victory Gas Station. Officers ordered the male driver and a female passenger out of the car. The driver was identified as Dayvon Damonta Ford. Officers saw hands reaching toward the driver’s waistband as they approached.
Ford admitted there was a firearm in the vehicle, claiming it was stored in a gun case. A search turned up a black handgun holster on the front passenger floor, a green gun frame with black accents and a functioning laser light, a loaded magazine near the gun frame and the slide of the firearm buried in blankets in the back seat. Another extended loaded magazine was found in a gun box under the front passenger seat.
The passenger told officers she was a traveling phlebotomist working in Duluth and that Ford had picked her up from work that morning. She said she was asleep in the passenger seat when she woke to the car hitting the rumble strip. She described a road rage encounter between Ford and another driver, stating she saw Ford roll down her window and point a gun at the other driver.
She also said Ford told her “the cops were after them” and instructed her to grab “the clip” from his waistband before they were stopped. She confirmed the loaded magazine found by officers was in the gun when Ford pointed it at the victim.
After being read his Miranda rights, Ford told officers he did not have a valid permit to carry a firearm. Dispatch confirmed with Ohio authorities that Ford had no valid license or permit to carry. Further checks revealed Ford did not have a valid driver’s license.
The charges were filed Wednesday, September 9, in Carlton County District Court.
About This Charge
Minnesota classifies assault by degree under § 609.221 (first), § 609.222 (second), § 609.223 (third), § 609.2231 (fourth) and § 609.224 (fifth). First-degree assault, alleging great bodily harm, carries up to 20 years in prison. The lower degrees range from misdemeanor up to 10-year felony exposure depending on weapon use and harm.
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