The tense moments unfolded around 10:15 a.m. near Exit 19 in Fairfield when a motorist called 911, reporting that another driver had pulled out a firearm during a heated traffic dispute.
According to state police, the altercation began when a gray Ford pickup tried to merge into the center lane without enough space, forcing the caller to swerve to avoid a crash. After passing the pickup in slower traffic, the caller noticed the same truck moving into the left lane behind them.
Moments later, the pickup pulled alongside the caller’s vehicle, rolled down its passenger-side window, and appeared to be saying something, police said. The caller couldn’t hear what was being said and kept driving. But the pickup quickly caught up again. This time, the driver was allegedly holding a pistol in his right hand, flashing a grin before driving off.
The caller recorded the encounter on their cellphone and later showed the footage to police.
State troopers quickly spotted the pickup near Exit 16 in Westport and pulled over the driver, identified as Joseph Rankin, 26, of Bridgeport. A loaded 9mm pistol was found on him, police said.
Rankin admitted the other driver "may have seen his firearm" but denied pointing it at them, according to investigators.
He was arrested without incident and charged with breach of peace and second-degree threatening. Rankin was released on a $15,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Bridgeport Superior Court on Feb. 25.
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