Tackling the open road on a daily basis is a tough enough job, especially in the tightened down conditions of a construction zone, but when a motorcyclist starts taking pot-shots at your big rig in a blatant case of road rage, that gets downright scary. Such was the situation for a truck driver for USF Trucking out of Holland last Friday morning when the morning commute turned nasty thanks to a gun-wielding motorcycle rider who couldn't contain his rage.
Lincoln Charter Township Police say that 45 year old Allen Shotko of Cedar Springs was maneuvering his 2015 Freightliner for USF through the eastbound construction zone along I-94 shortly after 7:30 Friday morning when he encountered a motorcyclist who became enraged and subsequently pulled a handgun from his coat and fired at the rig as both vehicles were moving down the highway.
Chief Dan Sullivan says that at least one bullet pierced the Freightliner's radiator, causing damage to the truck, but no injuries. The incident occurred near milemarker 24 in the township.
Before police arrived at the scene, 911 operators were provided with a detailed description of biker and his motorcycle by Shotko who was forced to stop due to the damage to his rig, while the shooter continued eastbound on 94. Officers from the Coloma Township Police Department and the Berrien County Sheriff stopped a 2014 Harley-Davidson near the 38-mile marker, after a Michigan State Police Motor Carrier unit spotted it. Even before police could pull the biker over, another report was called in telling of the same motorcyclist displaying the handgun in a similar incident between Stevensville and Watervliet, minus the shots being fired. The second caller was not identified, however thanks to fast action, 34 year old Trenton Norris from Porter, Indiana was taken into custody as the sole rider on the motorcycle, and his loaded .40-caliber pistol was taken in as evidence.
Lincoln Township Police report that Norris admitted to the incident, complaining that the truck driver had cut him off in the construction zone, however he denied any intent to cause the driver any physical harm. Nevertheless, he was arrested on assault and weapons charges and was lodged in the Berrien County Jail.
This morning, Monday September 19th, 2016 the charges of assault to do great bodily harm less than murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, discharge of a firearm from a motor vehicle, and carrying a concealed weapon, all of which are felony charges, were authorized by the Berrien County Prosecutors Office. Mr. Norris will be arraigned in Berrien County Trial Court on those charges where he remains.
