Man Accused Of Brandishing BB Gun On I-95 In Darien: State Police

DARIEN, CT — A Rhode Island man was arrested Monday after state police say he brandished a BB gun toward a tow truck driver during a road rage incident on Interstate 95 in Darien.

Dae Jesus Acosta, 24, of Central Falls, RI, was charged with illegal possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle; interfering with an officer/resisting; second-degree breach of peace; and first-degree threatening/displaying a firearm.

On April 29 at approximately 2:19 p..m., CT State Police Troop G in Bridgeport received a 911 call reporting a road rage-type incident on I-95 southbound near exit 13 in Darien, state police said in a news release, noting that the caller exaplined the driver of a black sedan with Rhode Island registration and front-end damage had displayed a firearm.

A traffic stop of a black sedan was initiated at the exit 10 entrance ramp and the driver, later identified as Acosta, was told to step out of the car, state police said.

Before troopers could start a pat down, Acosta became "uncooperative and combative," state police said, and he was placed in handcuffs but continued to resist.

Acosta denied having a firearm in his car, police said, but a search revealed a BB gun.

The man who made the 911 call told police he was driving a tow truck in the right lane of I-95 southbound in the area of exit 15 when a black, four-door sedan "consistent in appearance" to Acosta's tried to enter the highway at the exit 15 entrance ramp but was unable to do so, state police said.

The sedan eventually maneuvered in front of the tow truck and reduced its speed to around 5 mph in an attempt to get the truck to stop, the tow truck driver told police.

"The complainant also observed that the sedan’s male operator was wearing a mask which covered his face. In response, the complainant maneuvered his tow truck into the center lane. The sedan operator then moved into the left lane, pulled up beside the tow truck, and allegedly pointed a black handgun at the complainant while shouting and demanding that the complainant pull over. The complainant explained to troopers that he lost sight of the black sedan while on a 911 call," state police said.

While on the scene, the tow truck driver positively identified the black sedan, according to police.

Acosta was held on a $30,000 cash/surety bond and was scheduled to be arraigned at Stamford Superior Court on Tuesday.