TAMARAC, Fla. – A 53-year-old Florida Department of Corrections officer was arrested last week following a road rage incident in Tamarac, authorities said.
According to an arrest report from the Broward Sheriff’s Office, Eric Harris was in his personal vehicle Oct. 3 when he was cut off by another vehicle in the area of West Commercial Boulevard and Northwest 50th Avenue.
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Deputies said Harris pulled up to the victims’ vehicle, got out of his car and demanded that the driver pull over as he displayed a badge.
But authorities said the driver didn’t believe Harris was a law enforcement officer and continued to drive away.
According to the report, Harris followed the driver and the driver pulled into the parking lot of a Walgreens.
Deputies said Harris then cut off the driver’s car and blocked him in.
Surveillance video shows that the victim tried to drive around Harris’ car but struck it, authorities said. A woman inside the car called 911 and stayed on the phone with a dispatcher until deputies arrived.
According to the report, Harris got out of his car and pointed a gun at the victims, ordering them to get out of their car and to lay on the ground facedown until deputies arrived.
Police said there were five people inside the victim’s car, including two children.
According to authorities, Harris claimed that he held the family at gunpoint because he thought he smelled marijuana in their vehicle when he first approached it.
He acknowledged that he never saw any of the victims display a weapon, authorities said.
Harris was ultimately arrested on five counts of aggravated assault with a firearm. He has since bonded out of jail.