A detective has tracked down a suspect involved in a road rage incident last month in Leesburg.
A 911 call was received by the Leesburg Police Department late on the afternoon of Dec. 2 from a man who reported that he had been threatened by a man armed with a pistol. An officer was dispatched to meet the victim at the intersection of West Main Street and Richey Road.
The victim told the officer that after he made a right turn onto eastbound Main Street as a white Mercedes approached his car from the rear at a high rate of speed. The Mercedes passed the victim’s car and slammed on its brakes.
The Mercedes driver, described as a young black man, later identified as 18-year-old Jaylen N. Smith of Fruitland Park then leaned out the window and shouted at the man. He was pointing a silver handgun at the victim, who ducked behind his dashboard in fear, according to the affidavit of probable cause filed in support of an arrest warrant. The victim was able to get a picture of the rear of the Mercedes which showed the tag number and some damage to the rear bumper.
A detective assigned to the case found that Smith is the registered owner of the Mercedes. Smith has been classified as a violent offender as he has a number of arrests for firearm offenses including aggravated assault.
The detective prepared a photo lineup and the victim identified Smith as the man who pointed the gun at him.
The detective obtained a warrant for Smith’s arrest which was served on Smith by Lake County deputies on Wednesday.
Smith, who was on probation for carrying a concealed firearm and aggravated assault was placed in the Lake County Jail with no bond set.
