Charlotte battalion chief faces charges in road rage attack case

A Charlotte County Battalion Chief accused of being involved in a road rage incident was arrested Monday.

Jon Eric Miller, 53, of Venice, faces charges of burglary and battery, according to a report from the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office. Miller is under investigation by Charlotte County Human Resources.

Miller is accused of starting a verbal altercation on Dec. 30 with two 17-year-old boys at a stoplight near Cherry Street and Venice Avenue in Sarasota County, the report showed. Miller reportedly got out of his car and opened the victim’s driver door.

One of the 17-year-old boys attempted to record the incident on his phone when Miller snatched the phone from his hands, got back in his own car and left the scene, the report showed.

The teens told deputies they were unsure what triggered Miller and did not notice him until he had approached their car door, the report showed.

The teens, who will remain unidentified due to their age, attempted to track the phone via the application “Find My iPhone” but did not succeed, the report showed. While the teens were driving in the area of the incident they noticed Miller’s car and followed him to Peach Street and Terrace Avenue.

The teens stayed in their car and flashed their lights at Miller in an attempt to get the phone back, the report showed. Miller told police he thought the teens were attempting to ram his car.

Miller is accused of approaching the teens with a gun and pulling on one of the teen’s hair before officials arrived, the report showed.

Miller told deputies one of the teens threatened him with a knife and attempted to stab him, the report showed.  The phone was later located by officials near Bird Bay Drive.

WINK News reached out to Miller to get his side of the story, but he declined the request for an interview.

Miller was released Tuesday on a $5,500 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 9.