A second Philadelphia man has been charged in connection with a recent road rage incident in the Wawa parking lot at Bethlehem Pike and Route 113.
Jesse Gibson, 27, has been charged with misdemeanor counts of terroristic threats and related conspiracy charges in connection with the incident. He’s currently in custody at the Bucks County Correctional Facility in lieu of 10% of $10,000 cash bail.
Police were initially dispatched to the Wawa at 8:58 p.m. on May 19 for a report of an armed subject. Arriving police spoke with the victim, who stated that two males in a red Mazda pulled alongside him in the parking lot, at which point the driver — later identified as 26-year-old Joseph Dougherty — allegedly pointed a handgun at him and suggested the victim had cut him off in traffic.
The vehicle eventually fled the scene on Route 113 towards Route 309.
Montgomery Township Police stopped the vehicle a short time later, at which point Dougherty and the passenger — identified as Gibson — were detained. Police recovered two handguns from the vehicle — one registered to Doughtery and one registered to Gibson — and noted that Dougherty spit on an officer while being detained, according to charging documents.
After being transported to the scene of the traffic stop, the victim positively identified Dougherty as the person who pointed a gun at them, police said. Dougherty and Gibson were subsequently taken into custody by Hilltown Police, who noted both men smelled of alcohol and had glassy, bloodshot eyes, according to the criminal complaint.
While in custody, Dougherty was described as “very uncooperative” and police alleged he threatened an officer, the officer’s family, and attempted to damage the interior of the patrol vehicle. He also refused to consent to a blood test for the DUI charge, police said.
Gibson was later released without charges after police determined Dougherty was the only person to brandish a firearm, however further investigation revealed that Gibson allegedly shouted obscenities towards the victim and challenged them to “get out of the car” during the initial incident, police said. It was also learned that Dougherty had chased the victim’s vehicle around the parking lot until he was able to cut him off and block his path of travel, at which point Gibson began to step out of the vehicle towards the victim, according to charging documents.
Asa result of the new information, charges were filed against Gibson on Friday, and he was subsequently arraigned and place in county jail in lieu of bail. His next court appearance is a preliminary hearing on June 20 at 2:45 p.m. in front of Magisterial District Judge Regina Armitage.
Court records show Dougherty posted 10% of $250,000 cash bail on May 26 and was released from custody. His next court appearance is a preliminary hearing on July 18 at 3 p.m. in front of Judge Armitage on charges of assault of a law enforcement officer, simple assault, reckless endangerment, terroristic threats and related offenses.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using court records and the affidavit of probable cause.
See also:
Man Charged After Pointing Handgun at Driver During Road Rage Incident in Hilltown, Police Say
Lansdale Man Back in Jail After Burglarizing Massage Studio on Main Street, Police Say
Telford Woman Kicked Two Cops, Slapped a Third During Public Drunkenness Arrest, Police Say
Woman Arrested After Chain Snatching $3,000 Necklace from Man in Lansdale, Police Say
Sellersville Man with History of Sex Crime Convictions Accused of Molesting 9-Year-Old Neighbor
