AMES, Iowa -- Patrick Allen Stall, 22, of 327 E. Seventh St., Apartment #6, Ames, has been charged with harassment in the third degree, aggravated assault and carrying a weapon, following a road rage incident on Monday evening, Jan. 27. The harassment charge is a simple misdemeanor and the weapon and assault charges are both aggravated misdemeanors.
Stall reportedly followed the victims from the area of Lincoln Way and Grand Avenue in Ames to Lot 100 near the Lied Recreation Center on the Iowa State University campus. While Stall was following the victims' vehicle, he flashed his lights, honked his horn and gestured. When the victims stopped in Lot 100, Stall exited his vehicle, approached their car and began yelling at them. Stall pulled a black handgun from under his coat and displayed it so the victims could see it, but did not point the gun at them. The victims fled the area in their vehicle. Stall returned to his vehicle and left the area. The victims called ISU Police and returned to Lot 100 to report the incident.
ISU Police officers interviewed the victims to collect information and to make sure everyone was safe. Suspect information was relayed to all on-duty ISU and Ames Police officers to assist as they actively searched for the suspect. As a result of an ISU Alert, a number of tips were received on both the suspect’s identity and his current address. ISU Police also received a tip of a possible sighting of the suspect’s vehicle, but it could not be located based upon the information given.
At approximately 10 p.m., Stall contacted the Story County Sheriff’s Office and stated he wished to turn himself in; he did so several minutes later. ISU Police officers filed the three criminal charges at the Story County Justice Center. Stall is currently being held in the Story County Jail.
A criminal charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
ISU Police offer the following tips for those who may experience a road rage incident:
- Remain calm
- Call 911 and remain on the line
- Try to get the offender’s license plate number if it's safe to do so
- Relay as much information to the 911 operator as you safely can
- Drive to a police station or populated, well-lit area
- Continue to drive safely