According to the arrest report, Montezuma County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the 17000 block of U.S. Highway 491 about 5:47 p.m. after a 911 call about a “road rage” incident. A witness claimed 54-year-old Larry Roady, the driver of a Balkan Express freightliner truck, had attacked a Fed Ex truck driver after their vehicles pulled over to the side of the road.
Colorado State Patrol troopers were on the scene when deputy Victor Galarza responded and arrested Roady.
Galarza said in his report that he drew his gun, based on reports Roady was armed with a hammer. He ordered Roady and his wife out of their truck. Roady told deputies he was driving south on the highway behind another truck, which he said had slowed down to keep him from passing. He reportedly got into an argument with the driver, Eric Swartz, on his citizens band radio.
The Fed Ex driver, 50-year-old Craig Davies, who was driving behind Roady, reportedly joined the argument, and Roady threatened him. Davies said he pulled over to let Roady pass, but Roady pulled over too and left his truck, holding a metal hammer.
“I thought he was going to try and kill me with it,” Davies said in the report.
He said Roady approached his truck while swinging the hammer and shouting that he was going to kill him. He allegedly climbed the steps of the Fed Ex truck cabin and punched Davies in the face through the open window, then struck the cabin door several times with the claw end of the hammer, in an apparent attempt to hit Davies. When Davies shouted that he was calling the police, Roady reportedly threw the hammer through the window and hit him in the shoulder.
Roady told deputies he carried the hammer “for defense.”
The deputies found a large hole in the truck door, which Davies said was caused by the hammer. Davies also had bruises on his face consistent with a punch, according to the report. He estimated it would cost about $700 to repair the damage to his truck door.
Swartz, who made the 911 call, said he was driving at 65 mph, his truck’s maximum speed, when Roady started arguing with him.
Roady was arrested on suspicion of second-degree assault, menacing, reckless endangerment, third-degree assault and criminal mischief. According to the report, he had a previous criminal record including convictions for assault. He is scheduled to appear in Montezuma County Court on Aug. 23.
A Colorado State Patrol trooper gave Roady’s wife a courtesy ride into Cortez.