PORT ST. LUCIE – A 78-year-old man was arrested on June 9 after he allegedly pointed a loaded gun at a pregnant motorist during a road rage incident in St. Lucie West in Port St. Lucie, according to police reports.

At about 2:42 p.m., officers responded to St. Lucie West Boulevard east of I-95 in regard to a report of an aggravated assault involving a firearm.

The woman told police that as she was headed east on St. Lucie West Boulevard after exiting I-95, she encountered an aggressive driver of a yellow Chevrolet pickup truck.

The truck driver began honking his horn and driving aggressively before pulling alongside her car at Southwest Peacock Boulevard and Southwest St. Lucie Boulevard, according to police reports.

When the victim lowered her window to find out why the driver was so upset, he pulled out a gun and pointed it in her direction, according to police reports.

The victim, who is in the late stages of pregnancy, immediately became fearful of her safety, she said, and provided investigators with video footage that captured the suspect vehicle leaving the area, according to police reports.

Using the vehicle’s license plate information, officers identified the registered owner as Robert Clark Kniceley and went to his home to continue the investigation.

During the investigation, Kniceley cooperated with officers after he was confronted of being the driver of the truck involved in the incident, according to police reports.

Officers recovered a loaded Smith & Wesson .22 caliber handgun, which had a round chambered and was capable of being fired, from Knicely’s home.

Based on statements, video evidence, physical evidence, officers established probable cause to charge him with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Kniceley was arrested and transported to the St. Lucie County Jail, where he remained as of June 10 on a $5,000 bond, according to jail records.

“This incident serves as a reminder that disagreements on the roadway should never escalate to violence or the threat of violence,” Chief Leo Niemczyk said in a statement. “A moment of frustration can quickly turn into a criminal offense with serious consequences. We encourage motorists to remain calm, avoid confrontation, and contact law enforcement if they feel threatened.”