A Clarkesville man is in jail after a road rage incident that escalated into a hit-and-run and an alleged firearm threat Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 14.
Jesse Lafayette Parker, 84, turned himself in at the Habersham County Detention Center later that day. He is charged by the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office with three counts of aggravated assault and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The Georgia State Patrol also charged Parker with misdemeanor hit and run, failure to stop and render aid, and passing in a no-passing zone.
According to the sheriff’s office, deputies were called at 1:59 p.m. to Cornelia Christian Church on the 441 Bypass after a reported hit-and-run tied to a road rage incident that began on Level Grove Road near the GA 365 southbound ramp.
The victim told deputies that traffic slowed when Parker stopped his silver Mercury Grand Marquis to allow another vehicle to turn onto the ramp. After the victim honked, Parker allegedly followed him, honking his horn.
The victim told deputies Parker appeared to be holding a hatchet out the driver’s window. As the victim pulled over near the northbound ramp to let the car pass, the Grand Marquis reportedly swerved into his lane and struck his vehicle before leaving the area.
Both vehicles continued toward Cornelia. When the victim later pulled into a parking lot near the church, he said he saw the man, later identified as Parker, standing outside his car, aiming what appeared to be a shotgun at him.
The victim provided officers with photos allegedly showing Parker holding and pointing a black, pump-action shotgun. When Parker left the scene, the victim called 9-1-1.
“After a lookout was issued by Cornelia police for the Grand Marquis and deputies were searching for it, Parker called and told a Cornelia police officer he was on his way home to put away his groceries then would turn himself in,” said sheriff’s office spokesperson Rob Moore. Around 3 p.m., he arrived at the detention center and was arrested without incident.
Investigators say the two men did not know each other. Bond was set at $15,000 on all charges.
