Clermont County man arrested after alleged road rage incident
On Oct. 2 at 10:45 p.m., the Clermont County Communications Center received a 911 call from a male stating he had been shot at while driving eastbound in the 2100 block of state Route 125 of Monroe Township, Clermont County.
Deputies from the Clermont County Sheriff’s Office responded and spoke with the male victim, who was not injured during the incident. The victim, a 33-year-old man, explained that while traveling on SR 125, he was being tailgated “brake-checked” the other SUV. The SUV was described as a silver Nissan Murano which pulled up next to him, and the unknown driver allegedly fired one shot into the bed of the victim’s pickup truck, nearly missing the cab. The victim continued to his residence, where he called 911.
Deputies arrived at 10:55 p.m. and located a single projectile strike to the driver’s side of the victim’s truck. The victim provided a description of the sole male driver and said the vehicle turned around on SR 125 and fled the area, westbound.
The Investigative Unit of the Sheriff’s Office was contacted and responded to the scene to process the vehicle and interview the victim. A projectile was allegedly located inside the toolbox, within the truck bed. Surveillance cameras of the surrounding areas were checked for vehicles matching the description. Deputies were able to locate a vehicle matching the description of the SUV traveling behind the victim’s vehicle during the reported time frame.
The suspect vehicle was identified as a 2005 silver Nissan Murano, which was registered to a female resident in Pierce Township. Sheriff’s deputies patrolled at the area and located the vehicle and conducted a stop on the SUV for an alleged traffic violation at 1:59 a.m.
The only occupant was a male who fit the description provided by the victim. The suspect was identified as Joshua Washington, 33, of Pierce Township. Washington denied having a firearm in the vehicle and refused to answer further questions.
Detectives subsequently executed a search warrant on the vehicle and residence. A firearm, which allegedly is believed to be involved, was allegedly located inside the vehicle. There were no additional victims identified during this investigation.
After conducting interviews and collecting all evidence, the Prosecutor’s Office was consulted, and it was determined that Washington would be charged with one count of felonious assault, a felony of the second degree. He was arraigned Friday, Oct. 4.
The investigation will be reviewed in its entirety with the Clermont County Prosecutor’s Office for presentation to a grand jury for consideration of additional charges.
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