Friday afternoon, local agencies responded to a report of a possible road rage incident. The criminal complaint fielded by Johnson County Joint Communications, states that the defendant was traveling southbound in the left lane of Highway 218 near Hills, and approaching a slow moving semi tractor and trailer when they made a lane change without signaling, nearly causing a collision. The caller told the dispatcher that they honked at the defendant out of frustration and as they passed the defendant, the suspect rolled down their front passenger window and displayed a black pistol toward the motorist. The defendant then placed the pistol on the dash. The vehicle was then located by the Washington County Sheriff’s Department near Crawfordsville and the intersection of Highway 218 and 310th Street.

Authorities arrested 31-year-old Ethan Joseph Messer of Monroe City, Missouri on charges of assault while using or displaying a weapon, an aggravated misdemeanor. Messer was taken to the Johnson County Jail in Iowa City where he was released after posting bond. Responding the call were the Washington and JoHnson County Sheriff’s Office and Iowa State Patrol.