Canton man jailed after alleged road rage incident
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A Canton Township man was arrested Tuesday afternoon by Washington police after he allegedly struck a man in the head with a golf club during a road rage incident that apparently started on Interstate 70.
Stephen Watson, 41, of 381 Hilltop Lane, is accused of hitting Anthony Shadeck, 24, also of Canton, in the head with the club as he walked in the area of the incident.
City police were called about 4:10 p.m. to the 1000 block of Jefferson Avenue for a report of road rage.
Cpl. Joshua Rush spoke with Matthew Cole of Washington, who said he was driving west on I-70 when a white Infiniti sedan came speeding up behind his vehicle and started tailgating. Cole told Rush he accelerated so that he would get away from the other vehicle. Watson later was identified as the driver.
Watson passed Cole in the left lane and then pulled in front of him, braking hard in an apparent attempt to get the other vehicle to hit his Infiniti, police said. Watson reportedly did this several times before Cole passed him and then got off the highway at the Jessop Place exit.
Watson Followed Cole down to West Wylie Avenue, pulling in front of Cole’s vehicle near Chartiers Street. He got out of his vehicle and stood on the road, holding a golf club, police said.
As Cole drove around him, Watson allegedly hit the other man’s vehicle with the golf club. The two men exchanged words, and Cole pulled into a nearby parking lot in an attempt to get away.
Watson crossed the street and allegedly hit Shadeck at least twice in the head with the club as he was walking east on Wylie. Shadeck shoved Watson away. Watson then got back into his vehicle and fled.
Watson was stopped a short time later on I-70. Golf clubs were found on the passenger seat. Police also found two rocks of suspected crack in the center console of the car.
Watson was arraigned before District Judge Jay Weller on charges of aggravated assault, possession of crack, careless driving and three counts of reckless endangerment. He was released on $50,000 unsecured bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 24 before District Judge Robert Redlinger.