Another person cited in alleged Center Township road rage incident
A Butler Area School District board member accused of pointing a gun at someone during a road rage incident said Thursday, Jan. 25, that he was acting in self-defense.
Phillip C. Heasley, 33, of Butler, was charged Jan. 19 with misdemeanor simple assault and summaries harassment and disorderly conduct in relation to an alleged road rage incident on Dec. 27 at the intersection of Mercer Road and Route 8 in Center Township.
“It was a self-defense situation,” Heasley said.
His affidavit indicates Curtis D. Blakley, 61, of Butler, and another witness reported a white pickup truck was following their vehicle closely as they traveled on North Duffy Road on Dec. 27. Heasley was later identified by police as the driver of the white truck.
Police said when the vehicles approached a stop sign at the intersection with Mercer Road, Heasley pointed a pistol at the other vehicle.
Blakley is accused of approaching the driver’s side of Heasley’s vehicle while yelling and punching the rear view mirror.
Neither charging documents for Heasley or Blakley indicate the timeline of the events.
Blakley was charged with summary offenses harassment and disorderly conduct.
Heasley’s charging documents indicate the school board member told police he did not point a firearm at anyone, but was on the phone with a woman during the incident. Documents showed the woman told police she was not on the phone with Heasley at the time.
Police said Heasley indicated he had a long gun at his residence, but not a pistol. A pistol was also found at Heasley’s residence, according to documents.
Heasley’s preliminary hearing was scheduled Feb. 20 before District Judge Lewis Stoughton.
Blakley’s non-traffic citation will proceed to a hearing, if he pleads not guilty. Pleading guilty would result in his paying a fine.
Heasley was appointed to the school board in May to fill one of the vacant seats left by William “Bill” Halle and Regenold Griffin after their resignations.
Tom Breth, solicitor for the district, said Thursday the board is aware of the situation.
“The board and the administration are not in a position to comment further regarding the matter,” he wrote to the Eagle on Thursday.
