Man charged in ‘road rage’ incident

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A 33-year-old man faces charges in connection with an incident in which his ex-girlfriend’s vehicle was rammed five or six times Friday as she and their 7-year-old daughter were traveling south of Vallonia, police report.

Matthew Ray Wingler of Brownstown faces charges of criminal reckless with a deadly weapon (a vehicle), neglect of a dependent, domestic battery in the presence of a child less than 16 years old, possession of methamphetamine, possession of paraphernalia and reckless driving.

Jackson County Sheriff’s Department Officer Jeff Walters said the incident that led to Wingler’s arrest began at 5:22 p.m. Friday when Wingler’s ex-girlfriend reported that he had started ramming her sport utility vehicle with his Dodge pickup in the 2000 block of South State Road 135.

Neither the woman nor the child were injured, but both were visibly upset after the incident, Walters said.

The woman told Walters she had been driving south when she slowed for a vehicle in front of her turning left off of State Road 135 toward Starve Hollow State Recreation Area.

“She said she had not seen him before that but saw him in her rearview mirror, and he then started ramming her vehicle,” Walters said.

The woman told police she then slowed her vehicle, but Wingler rammed the rear of her vehicle five or six times before she was able to find a safe place to pull over.

“He kept on going, and she phoned dispatch and gave a possible address where he was living,” Walters said.

Wingler later was arrested at a home of relatives on East Walnut Street in Brownstown, Walters said.

He denied being involving the incident, Walters said, but police found damage and paint on the bumper that matched paint and damage on the woman’s bumper.

Wingler, who was booked into the Jackson County Jail in Brownstown at 6:59 p.m. Friday, remained there Monday without bond, pending his initial hearing in Jackson Circuit Court.

Domestic battery in the presence of a child less than 16 years old is a Level 5 felony, while the criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon (vehicle), neglect of a dependent and possession of methamphetamine charges are all Level 6 felonies. Possession of paraphernalia is a Class A misdemeanor, and reckless driving is an infraction.

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