A Jones County man who made a road rage complaint to law enforcement was arrested following the investigation of the incident and has now been indicted for crimes including aggravated assault.
Christopher Lee Hester, 22, was arrested June 20 for reckless conduct, discharge of firearms on a public highway, possession of a firearm during the commission or a felony and aggressive driving in addition to aggravated assault.
He was indicted by a grand jury July 19 for the charges of aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during commission of felony.
A report of the arrest of Christopher Lee Hester by Jones County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Jarrod Elrod stated Hester reported being rammed on Highway 18 East at approximately 10 p.m. June 20.
He said dispatch gave out a ‘be on the lookout’ for a black SUV with damage to the rear end. The bolo also advised that the complainant admitted to firing shots at the SUV.
Elrod said he and JCSO Deputy Danilo Riberio traveled north on Highway 49 in an attempt to intercept the black SUV and saw the vehicle making a right turn from Highway 18.
The officers performed a traffic stop and made contact with the SUV driver, who gave a different version of what had happened. The driver said Hester had been harassing him at work and they had exchanged words at a convenience store that evening.
The driver reported Hester was parked in a turning lane on Highway 18 and pointed a gun at him when he pulled up next to him. The driver said he quickly drove away, and Hester followed behind in an aggressive manner.
He reported that Hester fired four or five rounds at him and at least two had struck the SUV.
JCSO Deputy Nolan Sullivan met Hester at the Jones County Law Enforcement Center to speak to him, and Deputy Richard Langston spoke to the passenger.
The accounts from the parties involved were quite different.
Both vehicles were brought to the sheriff’s office, and following the inspection of the vehicles, Hester was placed under arrest.
Photos were taken of both. Two bullet holes were found in the tailgate of the SUV where projectiles had come through and lodged in the weatherstripping.
Shell casings were found inside Hester’s vehicle, and two guns were found inside of the cab. A rifle was found in the passenger’s seat.
Hester was released July 3 on a $25,000 bond with an ankle monitor.
