Road rage incident results in arrest of Clarkesville man

A Clarkesville man remains incarcerated at the Habersham County Detention Center following a road rage incident that began Wednesday afternoon (January 14) near Cornelia.

Jesse Lafayette Parker, 84, turned himself in at the detention center Wednesday afternoon. He is charged by the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office with three counts of aggravated assault and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The Georgia State Patrol has also charged Parker with misdemeanor hit-and-run/failure to stop and render aid, as well as passing in a no-passing zone.

At approximately 1:59 p.m. on Wednesday, January 14, a Habersham County Sheriff’s Office Uniform Patrol deputy was dispatched to a reported hit-and-run at Cornelia Christian Church on the 441 Bypass in Cornelia. Dispatchers advised the deputy that a Cornelia police officer was already with the victim of a hit-and-run and road rage incident that had begun in the county.

The victim reported traveling east on Level Grove Road near the Ga. 365 southbound ramp when a silver Mercury Grand Marquis, driven by an older white male, stopped in the roadway to allow another vehicle to make a left turn onto the ramp. The victim stated he honked his horn, after which the Grand Marquis turned onto the southbound ramp, then re-entered Level Grove Road and began following the victim while honking.

According to the victim, the driver of the Grand Marquis was holding what appeared to be a hatchet out of the driver’s side window. The victim then pulled to the right side of the roadway near the northbound ramp to allow the vehicle to pass. As the victim’s vehicle slowed, the Grand Marquis swerved into his lane, striking his vehicle before continuing east.

The victim followed the Grand Marquis toward Cornelia on Level Grove Road until it turned into the Quality Foods Shopping Center parking lot. The victim then turned right onto the 441 Bypass toward Baldwin and observed the Grand Marquis turn left into a parking lot adjacent to Cornelia Christian Church.

As the victim pulled into the parking lot approximately 100 feet behind the Grand Marquis, the driver was seen standing with his door open, aiming what appeared to be a rifle or shotgun at the victim. The victim provided responding officers with photographs showing the driver—later identified as Parker—pointing a black, pump-action style shotgun at him, as well as additional photographs of Parker holding the firearm.

After Parker left the scene, the victim called 9-1-1. A lookout was issued by Cornelia Police for the vehicle, and deputies began searching for it. Parker later contacted a Cornelia police officer and stated he was returning home to put away groceries before turning himself in.

At approximately 3 p.m. Wednesday, Parker arrived at the Habersham County Detention Center lobby in Clarkesville, where he was arrested without incident. Authorities confirmed that Parker and the victim did not know each other.

Bond for all charges has been set at $15,000.