NORTH FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Sandy Springs police say they don’t plan to pursue charges against a driver accused of pointing a gun at a cyclist.
Sam Fistel told Channel 2’s Mike Petchenik he often rides his bike to work at UPS in Sandy Springs.
A few weeks ago, he said a black pickup truck cut him off and nearly drove him off Abernathy Road.
“I came up to the passenger side window of his big truck and I bang, bang bang on the window to get his attention,” said Fistel. “I watch as he flips open his center console, flips up his gun case, opens up his gun case, and points it at me.”
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Fistel said he intended to have a conversation with the driver about a rule that requires drivers to give cyclists three feet of space on the road.
“I have the legal right to be on the street,” he said. “You have the right to go around me.”
But, police told Petchenik Fistel should have contacted them first before taking matters into his own hands.
“Just have to call us,” said Sergeant Ron Momon. “You never know how someone’s going to react by you knocking on their window, by you doing anything. People just take things the wrong way.”
Fistel said he wants the driver charged and plans to swear out a warrant with Fulton County, which would require the driver to appear before a judge.
“Let us both tell our story to a judge and let a judge decide,” he said. “This guy does not need to have a gun.”
Petchenik obtained the driver’s name from a police report, but Channel 2 is not naming him because he’s not charged at this point.
The driver emailed Petchenik to say his lawyer asked him not to comment about the situation.
WSBTV
