Driver Holds Down Man With Gun In Meijer Parking Lot: Police

ST. CHARLES, IL -- A road rage incident in the Meijer parking lot led to a 23-year-old Geneva man pulling a gun on another driver, police in St. Charles said Thursday. The driver and the Geneva man then got into a fight in the parking lot Tuesday afternoon before the driver wrestled the man with the gun to the ground, holding him there until police arrived, according to a news release from the St. Charles Police Department.

The man who pulled the 9mm handgun, Robert J. Brouillette, of the 600 block of Illinois Street in Geneva, has since been charged with aggravated assault - use of a deadly weapon and six counts of felony drug charges in connection with the incident, authorities said.

It all started at about 2:11 p.m. when Brouillette allegedly turned in front of the other driver in the Meijer parking lot, 855 S. Randall Road in St. Charles, cutting the vehicle off, according to police. The driver followed Brouillette, stopping his vehicle near where Brouillette ended up parking.

Brouillette then allegedly approached the other vehicle while pointing a gun at the driver. A physical altercation followed. When police arrived, they found the driver on top of Brouillette, attempting to keep him on the ground, according to the news release.

Officers took Brouillette into custody and recovered a 9mm handgun, according to police.

"This was a senseless incident that happened in a crowded parking lot," Erik Mahan, deputy chief of the St. Charles Police Department, wrote in an e-mail. "Thankfully, no one was seriously injured or killed."

Brouillette did have a valid Illinois Firearm Owners ID Card but did not have a Concealed Carry license. A subsequent search of Brouillette’s vehicle revealed a second magazine for the handgun, six knives and several items in various forms, which tested positive for the presence of controlled substances, according to a news release.

Brouillette was transported to Delnor Hospital for minor injuries sustained during the fight. He was then taken to the St. Charles Police Department where he was charged with the gun and drug offenses.

PHOTO VIA SHUTTERSTOCK