PAW PAW (WWJ) -- A Southwest Michigan man is facing charges after police say he attacked a woman in a road rage incident last week, in Van Buren County.
According to the Van Buren County Sheriff's Office, a woman was driving on on 38th Avenue in Paw Paw on Oct. 5, when she pulled out in front of a man pulling a trailer with a pickup truck, cutting him off.
Van Buren County Sheriff Dan Abbott said this made the man — later identified as 68 year old Leonard Yonkman of Paw Paw — "go into a rage."
He caught up, and forced the woman off the road, nearly causing a crash, the sheriff said. When the woman pulled over at a gas station, Yonkman followed, and the two got of out their vehicles and began arguing.
The sheriff said Yonkman went to the bed of his truck, grabbed a chainsaw, and tried to start it up.
"The saw wouldn’t start, so he physically assaulted the female victim," the sheriff said.
News Channel 3 reported it's alleged that Yonkman knocked a cell phone out of the woman's hand, punched her in the stomach, and grabbed her by the throat.
When a witnessed yelled for him to stop, Yonkman fled the scene, but deputies tracked him down and took him into custody.
According to court documents obtained by News Channel 3, Yonkman was charged with assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, and malicious destruction of property.
The sheriff's message: If you encounter an issue with another driver and you feel you are in danger, keep a safe distance and call 911 for help.
"Never be aggressive with vehicles on the road like that," Abbot told the TV station. "You know, with what transpired there... it could've wound up a lot worse."
Yonkman has since posted bond, and was scheduled to appear in court for a probable cause conference on Wednesday.