PHOENIX — A man has been arrested after allegedly threatening a pedestrian with his SUV, threatening another driver with a rifle, and ramming a police car, according to court documents.
Phoenix police report that on January 11 around 2:45 p.m., they received a call about a driver of a silver Saturn SUV threatening a pedestrian in central Phoenix.
Police say a man was walking in the area of 35th Avenue and Van Buren Street when Daniel Edward Pruente, 59, nearly struck a pedestrian with his SUV. Pruente then reportedly threatened the victim and almost hit him again before leaving the area.
About 15 minutes later, an SUV with the same license plate number was seen driving erratically near 35th Avenue and Indian School Road. The vehicle was allegedly driving on sidewalks and cutting off other cars.
At one point, police say Pruente blocked in another car, got out of his vehicle and pointed a rifle at a driver, demanding he get out of his car. The man refused, saying his one-year-old daughter was also in the vehicle. The victim managed to maneuver his vehicle around the Pruente's SUV and escape.
About 20 minutes later, police allege Pruente was seen by a police assistant in a marked police car driving erratically near 15th Avenue and Indian School Road. He reportedly sped through a red light. The police assistant followed the SUV, which stopped suddenly then reversed, ramming the police assistant's vehicle.
The police assistant later told officers she saw Pruente look over his shoulder at her before putting the SUV in reverse, spinning the tires, and striking her car.
Pruente was later captured and charged with multiple counts of aggravated assault.
