Newberry man arrested for pointing AR pistol during road rage incident

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Ja’len Javon Parks, 27, of Newberry, was arrested yesterday and charged with aggravated assault after allegedly pointing an AR pistol at another driver during a road rage incident.

At about 5:08 p.m. on November 19, an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to a call from the victim, who said he was driving westbound in the 8900 block of NW 39th Avenue when the driver of a red Toyota Tercel threw coffee at his vehicle. The victim said he was startled and was not aware that he had done anything to provoke that response. The victim said he caught up to the Tercel and asked why the driver threw coffee at his vehicle, and then the driver of the Tercel, later identified as Parks, pulled an AR-style pistol from his waist, raised it, and pointed it at him. The victim said he was afraid of being shot and slammed on his brakes.

The victim reported the Tercel’s tag number to the 911 operator, and a be-on-the-lookout (BOLO) alert was sent out for the vehicle, which was registered at a Newberry address. A deputy found the vehicle driving westbound in the 18000 block of W. Newberry Road, followed the Tercel while waiting for backup, and pulled over the Tercel in the 1600 block of SW 202nd Street.

Parks, who was the only occupant of the Tercel, was detained, and the victim reportedly identified him as the person who pulled a gun on him.

Post Miranda, Parks reportedly said the victim brake-checked him in traffic, so he threw coffee at the victim’s vehicle. He said the victim approached him after the coffee incident and had “something in his hand,” but he did not say he identified the object as a weapon. He said he pulled his gun and said, “I have a gun, too,” but he denied pointing the gun at the victim.

Parks reportedly gave consent to retrieve the gun, a Karri’s KG15 AR pistol, which was found under three bags behind the passenger seat.

Parks has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He has no criminal convictions, and Judge Jonathan Ramsey ordered him released on his own recognizance.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.