Holly MatkinFlagler County, FL – A road-raging Florida man is behind bars after cell phone footage showed him pulling a knife on a biker who defended himself with his legally-owned concealed firearm last week (video below).
The incident began shortly after 1 p.m. on May 17, when 911 calls began pouring into the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) regarding an armed confrontation taking place at the intersection of Whirlaway Drive and Pine Lakes Parkway, the sheriff’s office said in a press release the following day.
A biker later told investigators he was riding down the street when he was suddenly cut off by a silver Toyota Tacoma.
The driver of the Toyota, 50-year-old Rafael Vincent Rivera, pulled over a moment later and jumped out of his vehicle with a knife in his hand, according to the FCSO.
“Concerned there was about to be a physical altercation, the victim grabbed his metallic knuckles,” the sheriff’s office said.
Cell phone footage recorded by the biker’s wife showed the irate driver angrily approaching her husband with the knife gripped in his right hand.
The couple argued with Rivera in the middle of the street before the suspect suddenly lunged forward and slashed at the biker with the blade, the video showed.
That’s when the biker, who has a concealed-carry permit, reached into his vest and drew out a handgun.
“Put the f—king thing down right now mother—ker!” he yelled as he pointed the weapon at Rivera, who quickly backed away.
The biker’s wife yelled for bystanders to call police as the argument continued.
FCSO deputies arrived at the scene within minutes and detained both men while they investigated what had occurred, according to the press release.
They watched the video, spoke with both parties, and talked to witnesses before ultimately arresting Rivera on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill, the FCSO said.
Rivera was booked into the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, where he was being held without bond.
“Rivera has been a guest in the Green Roof Inn four different times since 2015 on three felony and four misdemeanor charges involving theft and trespassing,” the sheriff’s office noted.
Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly praised the biker for de-escalating the situation and lawfully defending himself.
“Traffic disagreements should never result in violence in our streets,” Sheriff Staly said. “In this particular incident, the video captured by the victim’s wife clearly shows that her husband’s life was threatened.”
“I applaud the way the motorcyclist handled this situation,” the sheriff continued. “After his life was clearly threatened, he lawfully defended himself and then de-escalated the situation. The offender is lucky he was not shot. I also remind the community to not take traffic enforcement in your own hands and control your anger. Call the Sheriff’s Office instead.”
Watch the incident unfold in the video below. Warning – Graphic Content and Obscene Language:
