ROGERS PARK — Police say a screwdriver-wielding man rushed out of his car in the middle of traffic on West Morse Avenue and stabbed both the windshield and empty passenger seat of another driver in a road rage incident.
The alleged attacker identified in the July 15 incident, 26-year-old Abdul Jalili of Rogers Park, was arrested outside his home a short time later and charged with three misdemeanors, including aggravated assault, criminal damage to a vehicle and possession of narcotics, Chicago Police said.
According to a report of the incident, officers found what they believed was the screwdriver used in the attack in a door panel of Jalili’s vehicle, along with a bag of less than 30 grams of marijuana, when they took him into custody in the 1200 block of West Lunt Avenue.
The initial conflict between the vehicles had been started around 5:45 p.m. when the victim, a 54-year-old Edgewater man, cut off Jalili’s car in traffic on Morse Avenue just east of North Clark Street. The older man admitted to police he cut him off, but said it was an accident, according to the report.
In response, Jalili reversed his car through traffic to get alongside the victim and began berating him. The two exchanged words before the other driver drove away, police said.
Jalili followed him, according to the report, and jumped out of his car while at a stop sign in the 1400 block of Morse Avenue, charging at the victim with a screwdriver. Jalili first stabbed at the man's windshield, then jerked open the passenger door and repeatedly stabbed the man’s seat.
The victim said he drove away and called 911, but kept an eye on Jalili’s vehicle, eventually following it to his Jalili's home and noting its location. He then drove back to the site of the attack and waited for police, according to the report.
When officers went to the address provided by the victim, they found Jalili standing outside with his vehicle. The victim identified him as the man with the screwdriver and police arrested him at the scene, according to the report.
Jalili’s court date is scheduled for misdemeanor court August 17 at 2452 West Belmont Avenue.
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