POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A 43-year-old man from Fellsmere in Indian River County is behind bars in Polk County after a bizarre road rage incident that allegedly involved firing a gun at a semi-truck.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd announced the arrest of Mitchell Gens on Wednesday following an investigation sparked by a reported shooting on a Polk County highway.
According to Sheriff Judd, the incident unfolded when Gens attempted to pass a semi-truck. Gens later claimed to deputies that the semi-truck driver tried to swerve into his vehicle.
However, Sheriff Judd emphasized that video footage from the semi-truck’s cameras directly contradicted this account. “I’ve been trying to tell y’all, everybody’s got cameras,” Sheriff Judd stated. “And the semi did not swerve.”
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Following the alleged near-miss, Gens reportedly took drastic and dangerous action. “So, what does he do?” Sheriff Judd exclaimed. “He lays a gun out the window and shoots at the semi. Did you hear what I said?”
After the alleged shooting, Gens reportedly fled the scene. “And then he took off like Hogan’s goat,” Sheriff Judd described. Investigators say they obtained video evidence of Gens’ vehicle. In what Sheriff Judd described as a telling move, Gens allegedly attempted to conceal his identity by removing a sticker from the rear window of his vehicle as he fled.
“You think that’s a little bit like, I’m guilty, and I’m afraid they’ll recognize this sticker,” Sheriff Judd mused. He later revealed the sticker in question was a skull. “I think that would stick out a little bit.”
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Polk County authorities located Gens after contacting his residence. When asked about his whereabouts, Gens’ wife reportedly stated he was “over in the Polk County area” and expected to be home soon.
Judd made it clear that Gens’ trip home would be significantly delayed.
“Now, he’s locked up,” Sheriff Judd declared. “That’s right. Because of dash cam on the truck, we got him.”
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