Welcome to Arrest Stories. A twenty-three-year-old Gulf Breeze man faces felony charges after allegedly pointing a gun at an Alabama tourist and her teenage children during a road rage incident sparked by a discarded cigarette butt. Here's what may have happened.
Tuesday around noon in Destin became the scene of a dangerous confrontation when what started as littering escalated into alleged deadly threats. Twenty-three-year-old Caleb Mack reportedly became enraged after witnessing an Alabama tourist throw a cigarette butt from her car window while driving through Okaloosa County.
According to police reports, both vehicles came to a stop at the red light intersection of U.S. Highway Ninety-Eight and Airport Road. That's when Mack allegedly pulled his vehicle alongside the victim's car and began yelling at the woman. But the situation took a terrifying turn when Mack allegedly brandished a handgun equipped with an optic and mounted light, pointing the weapon directly at the victim's vehicle while her teenage children sat helplessly in the back seat.
The frightened mother immediately called nine-one-one, prompting deputies to issue a Be On the Lookout alert for Mack's vehicle. Law enforcement quickly located and conducted a traffic stop on the suspect's car. During the arrest, deputies discovered and seized the firearm from Mack's waistband.
When questioned by authorities, Mack admitted to displaying his weapon during the confrontation but denied pointing it at anyone involved. However, police reports indicate otherwise, leading to his arrest on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill.
Officials emphasized the disproportionate nature of Mack's alleged response, stating "Littering may be unlawful but it's never acceptable to respond with threatened violence."
The incident serves as a stark reminder of how quickly road rage situations can escalate from minor infractions to life-threatening encounters, especially when weapons are involved and innocent children are present.
All suspects presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Do not take this report as factual, always verify facts. Thanks for watching Arrest Stories.