ORLANDO, Fla. – Florida Highway Patrol troopers are investigating two cases of suspected road rage including one involving a Broward County corrections officer.
Troopers say a driver claims he saw John Charles Dlugos, 46, brandish a gun at him during a spat they were having while driving in separate cars along the Florida Turnpike Sunday night in Orange County. Dlugos is a Lieutenant at the Broward County corrections department.
The driver told investigators Dlugos had tailgated him at one point, and when he changed lanes, the two exchanged hand gestures.
It was at that point, the driver says, that Dlugos showed him a gun. The driver pulled off to the Turkey Lake Service Plaza and called police.
Dlugos was apprehended a short time later while driving south toward Broward County.
According to the agency's official website, Dlugos began working with the Broward Sheriff's Office in 1993 as a detention deputy. He was promoted to sergeant in 2000 and was assigned to the Military Training Unit.
Dlugos received the Outstanding Unit Award while assigned to Central Intake and a Grand Cordon Unit awards while assigned to the Military Training Unit, according to his bio on the site.
He served four years in the U.S. Air Force and is currently a Team Commander for the Emergency Response Team.
Troopers are also investigating a suspected road rage incident involving a suspect who they say admitted he had a problem managing his anger while driving. They arrested Bertrum Alexander Hayes, 22, late Sunday night after another driver says he flashed a gun at his 8-year-old son.
Hayes told authorities the driver cut him off in traffic and he was trying to get back at him. The other driver said Hayes had been trying to run him off State Road 417 when his son saw Hayes show him a gun.
Hayes was pulled over near the University Avenue exit on 417, where he told the trooper he had a problem with road rage and had just got his license back.
Both men posted bond and were out of jail by Monday.
The Broward County Sheriff's Office told News 6 that Dlugos had been suspended with pay until the case is completed.?