Man Allegedly Wields Wooden Furniture Leg in Road Rage Incident

A 43-year-old Melrose man has been summonsed to court on an assault charge after another driver alleged that the man blocked his car in with his own car, and then got out wiedling a wooden furniture leg at the Swains Pond Avenue and Dexter Road intersection.

received a 911 call at approximately 4 p.m. on Friday from a man who stated that as he approached the three-way intersection of Dexter Road, Penney Road and Swains Pond Avenue, he countered another vehicle at the intersection.

The driver told police that the man tailgated him, pulled up besides his car and then in front of him before stopping, Melrose Police Lt. Mark DeCroteau said. The man then got out of his car holding what appeared to be either a wooden table leg or chair leg, the driver reported, demanding that he exit his vehicle.

"Because he exited the vehicle, the driver backed his car up to and create space," DeCroteau said. "The man then returned to his vehicle and moved it again to prevent him from backing up any further."

DeCroteau said that with assistance of the 911 operator he was on the phone with, the driver managed to get unblocked and drove straight to the Melrose Police station to file a report. The man holding the furniture leg never struck the car or the man.

"It appears to be a road rage incident," DeCroteau said. "Through the plate number as well as a description given by the driver, we were able to identify someone we believed was involved."

After police unsuccessfulyl tried to contact that person, a summons was issued for the 43-year-old Melrose resident on an assault charge in order to set up a court date, DeCroteau said.