Road rage at center of two Monday arrests

A retired pastor from McDermitt and an allegedly intoxicated contractor from Las Vegas were each jailed this week following separate road rage incidents.

Elmer Elsworth French, a 65-year-old former pastor, was booked into the Carson City Jail at 12:44 p.m. Monday on suspicion of felony assault with a deadly weapon and carrying a concealed weapon.

Jeffrey Vincent Clack, the 28-year-old contractor, was arrested at 9:38 p.m. on suspicion of second-offense drunken driving, misdemeanor assault, three counts of battery, felony probation violation and having an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle.

According to French's arrest report, a motorcyclist was westbound on Highway 50 East near Flint Road on Monday when French allegedly got behind the motorcycle and began to follow it "too closely."

The motorcyclist said he tried to move into another lane to allow French to pass, but traffic prevented him from doing so.

French allegedly moved into the opposing lane and forced the motorcyclist into the turn lane, according to the report.

The motorcyclist told officers he was able to maintain control and eventually made his way back into the travel lanes when French allegedly waved a handgun at him. When French pulled into the Dairy Queen parking lot, the motorcyclist followed and French allegedly waved the gun again. The report states French then left westbound on Highway 50 East where officers stopped him in the 1100 block of East William Street.

A loaded .40-caliber handgun was recovered from French's vehicle, according to the report.

French denied pointing the weapon at the motorcyclist. He allegedly told officers that the biker appeared as if he was gong to ram French's SUV and French flashed the weapon to dissuade him. French's bail was set at $20,000.

On Monday at about 9:30 p.m., officers were called out to the 2200 block of Oak Ridge Drive on the report of a fight. When deputies arrived, they found five people arguing in a front yard.

Two teenage brothers told deputies they were driving on College Parkway near Carson Street when a truck began to follow them with its high beams on. The teens told deputies that when they protested, the truck pulled in front of them and tried to cut them off, according to the report.

The teenage driver said he became afraid and drove to his home on Oak Ridge Drive, and the truck followed.

When the victims pulled into their driveway, Clack allegedly stopped his truck in the middle of the road, and rushed up to their vehicle. The report states Clack reached into the driver's window and grabbed the driver by his shoulders, trying to pull him out of the car.

The older brother jumped from the car to confront Clack and was assaulted as well, the report states. When another brother came out of the house, Clack allegedly struck him as well, and when the father emerged, Clack prepared to fight with him as police arrived, the report states.

An officer noted in his report that Clack smelled of alcohol. A preliminary breath test allegedly revealed Clack had a blood-alcohol content of .207 and .214, nearly three times the legal limit to be considered drunk in Nevada.

Clack was also on felony probation with a no-drinking clause out of Clark County on a charge of battery causing substantial bodily harm. Animal control took custody of a dog in Clack's vehicle.

Clack's bail was set at $6,995.

Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.