YOUNGSTOWN – A 40-year-old Youngstown man said he was tailgated by a tow truck driver who followed him into a parking lot and then threatened him with a rusty hook and chain from his truck just after 9 a.m. Monday on Lockport Street.
The tow truck driver, Ryan D. Jackson, 36, of Lockport Street, was charged by Niagara County sheriff’s deputies with second-degree menacing. Jackson admitted there was a road rage incident, but denied threatening the other driver with a hook and chain. However, he was questioned a second time and admitted that he did pick up the hook and chain, but said he was only defending himself. Deputies said security video at the scene was reviewed and showed Jackson as the aggressor in the incident and he was charged.
The other driver victim said he was tailgated by the tow truck driver as he was driving west on Lockport Street in the Village of Youngstown. He said the driver followed him into the Melloni Marketplace/Rite Aid lot. He said the tow truck driver blocked him from getting out of his car, and then came out of the truck, walked to the rear of his truck and grabbed a length of rusty chain and hook and threatened to kill him.
The victim said he refused to get out of his car and told Jackson that if he did not move away, he would run him over. Jackson then walked back to the truck, continued to yell at the victim for a short time, then drove off, according to the victim.
The tow truck driver, Ryan D. Jackson, 36, of Lockport Street, was charged by Niagara County sheriff’s deputies with second-degree menacing. Jackson admitted there was a road rage incident, but denied threatening the other driver with a hook and chain. However, he was questioned a second time and admitted that he did pick up the hook and chain, but said he was only defending himself. Deputies said security video at the scene was reviewed and showed Jackson as the aggressor in the incident and he was charged.
The other driver victim said he was tailgated by the tow truck driver as he was driving west on Lockport Street in the Village of Youngstown. He said the driver followed him into the Melloni Marketplace/Rite Aid lot. He said the tow truck driver blocked him from getting out of his car, and then came out of the truck, walked to the rear of his truck and grabbed a length of rusty chain and hook and threatened to kill him.
The victim said he refused to get out of his car and told Jackson that if he did not move away, he would run him over. Jackson then walked back to the truck, continued to yell at the victim for a short time, then drove off, according to the victim.