Beverly Man Arrested For Woburn Road Rage Incident

WOBURN, MA -- Massachusetts State Police arrested a Beverly man early Tuesday morning after he allegedly pointed a gun at another motorist. Jason Root, 37, of Beverly, was scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday morning in Woburn District Court on charges of operating under the influence of liquor, assault with a dangerous weapon, carrying a firearm while intoxicated, reckless operation of a motor vehicle and resisting arrest.

State Police responded to a report of a crash on the southbound side of Interstate 95 just before Exit 36. Root was standing outside of his 2014 Jeep Cherokee when police arrived and told state troopers that there was a firearm he was licensed to carry on the seat of the vehicle. Root had struck an SUV, according to police reports.

Prior to the crash, police had received a call from a driver who said his SUV had been rear-ended by a black Jeep Cherokee on Route 93 southbound. The caller said the driver had tried to run him off the road several times. Fearing for his safety, the driver turned onto 95 southbound.

On 95, Root allegedly pulled his car and came to a stop in front of the vehicles car in the middle lane. The victim told police Root exited his vehicle and approached his car, screaming. He also pointed a gun at the victim, who ducked and then sped away and called police. A license plate number he gave to police matched the plate on Root's Jeep.

After conducting field sobriety tests, police determined Root was intoxicated. he resisted arrest, according to police before being taken to the Danvers State Police Barracks.

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Patch file photo.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).