Garden City Police arrest man after road rage incident

Garden City, Kan.–Garden City Police say they continue to respond to dangerous driving incidents, including a road rage altercation that resulted in an arrest Sunday.

Around 5:30 p.m., Sunday afternoon, Officers responded to a report of a road rage incident at the US-50 and US-83 south junction. Officers learned that a Toyota Camry was traveling westbound from the area after allegedly involving a firearm in the altercation. Officers located the vehicle at the intersection of 8th and Fulton Street and conducted a high-risk traffic stop, making contact with the driver, 31-year-old Andrew Ortiz. They also spoke with the reporting party, the other driver involved.

The investigation revealed that Ortiz pulled out in front of the other driver while traveling northbound on US Highway83, then slowed down abruptly, nearly causing a rear-end collision. Ortiz appeared to be making offensive gestures toward the other driver. As both vehicles exited onto the US Highway 50 off-ramp, Ortiz stopped in the middle of the road, got out, and began yelling while approaching the other driver. He then opened his trunk and retrieved a firearm.

Ortiz was arrested and lodged in the Finney County Jail for Aggravated Assault and traffic offenses. There were no injuries from the incident.

The GCPD reminds motorists to drive smart, stay alert, keep calm, and report traffic concerns or unusual/suspicious activity to us at (620) 276-1300.

*The person(s) involved has not yet been convicted of a crime and are presumed innocent. The presumption of innocence shall continue until such time that the person(s) accused may be found guilty by a court of law.*