MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — An Upper Allen Township man was arrested after allegedly pointing a gun at another driver during a bout of road rage.
Richard Whitmire, 66, allegedly began following the victim on May 18 after the victim made a delivery in the 2300 block of Bumble Bee Hollow Road in Upper Allen Township.
Whitmire reportedly yelled that the victim looked like a cop. Police presume Whitmire thought this because the victim drove a white Ford Crown Victoria that appeared to be a decommissioned police vehicle.
The accused approached the victim's driver side window on foot when he was stopped at the intersection of Bumble Bee Hollow Road and South Market Street, police said. The victim drove away as Whitmire allegedly grabbed at his window.
Whitmire then allegedly pulled up on the shoulder of the road beside the victim's car when the victim was stopped at a red light at the intersection of South Market Street and the Route 15 South ramp.
The victim told police that Whitmire pointed a gun at him and yelled something to the effect of "You want to look like a cop, I'll show you what it's like to be a cop!"
According to police, the victim then drove directly to the township building parking lot to wait for police. Whitmire did not follow.
Multiple witnesses corroborated the victim's report, police say.
According to a criminal complaint, after police identified Whitmire as a suspect based on the victim's and witness's testimony and other evidence, they made contact with Whitmire on June 1.
The accused admitted over the phone to being involved with a motorist matching the victim's description at the same time and place as this incident but did not mention a gun, the criminal complaint says.
Whitmire is charged with terroristic threats, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and harassment, according to police.
Police say a preliminary hearing was scheduled on Oct. 27 and Whitmire waived his right to a hearing.
