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Man charged with brandishing gun in Milton road rage case

E-mail|Link|Comments () July 30, 2009 12:22 PM

By Brian R. Ballou, Globe Staff

An apparent road rage incident early today in Milton led to the arrest of a Middleborough man who allegedly brandished a handgun at another driver, State Police said.

Thirty-five-year-old Edward Murphy of Halifax became angry at 6:15 a.m. because the man in the pickup truck in front of him, William F. Wilton Jr., 47, of Middleborough, was driving too slowly on Route 138. When Wilton arrived at the Neponset Valley Parkway, he pulled to the right and waved Murphy, driving in a Mercury Mountaineer SUV, past him. But Murphy, according to police, stopped next to Wilton and the two began arguing.

Police say that's when Murphy allegedly waved an 18-inch souvenir baseball bat at Wilton, and Wilton responded by holding up his holster with a handgun in it. Wilton has a license to carry a gun. Wilton then drove off but Murphy followed him and called 911. Milton police stopped Wilton and then State Police showed up and arrested him. Murphy later showed up at a State Police barracks to give a statement and was issued a summons.

Wilton faces arraignment Thursday for assault with a dangerous weapon and threats to commit a crime. No date has been set for Murphy's summons on charges of assault by means of a dangerous weapon. Both charges are felonies.