Driver flashes as gun to second vehicle, threat puts occupants in fear
An Atmore man was arrested Friday a faces felony charges of aggravated assault and drug possession following a road rage incident that left two occupants in another vehicle in fear for their lives.
Sam Payne, 28, 212 Maxwell Street, was driving a silver Hyundai Sonata with a '1PAYNE' specialty tag southbound on Highway 97 when he flashed a black blocky-type gun at two occupants in another vehicle, later identified as Quinton Emmons and Brandon Rolin, according to an Escambia County Sheriff's office report.
A deputy responding to an armed disturbance complaint made contact with Emmons and Rolin, who told them about the incident with the driver of the Sonata, later identified as Payne. They told the deputy they turned to go southbound on Highway 29 and the Hyundai continued to follow them, flashing his headlights at them.
When the deputy made contact with Payne at the intersection of Highway 29 and Tate School Road, the deputy ordered Payne out of his vehicle at gun point due to the fact that Payne displayed a firearm at both Emmons and Rollin. According to the report, the deputy detained Payne in the back seat of his patrol car.
On the front passenger seat in plain view of the Hyundai the deputy observed a black .45 caliber Hi-Point pistol with one round in the chamber and two rounds in the magazine. When the deputy went to retrieve Payne's identification, which Payne said was in the center console, the officer discovered a small, clear plastic bag with one heart-shaped pill and one teal skull-shaped pill and two fragments, which tested positive for methamphetamine, the report said.
A positive identification of Payne was completed by Emmons and Rollin. Payne was arrested and charged with one count felony aggravated assault with intent to commit a felony and one count felony possession of a controlled substance. He was transported to Escambia County Jail, where he was given a bond of $7,500.
