During a bout of road rage, a Florida man got out of his vehicle and pulled a knife on a biker and his wife. However, once the sheriff saw the video of the incident, he told the public that he “applauds” the incredible way the biker handled the situation.
When multiple calls concerning an armed confrontation came into the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, deputies raced out to the intersection of Whirlaway Drive and Pine Lakes Parkway, The Police Tribune reports. However, once they arrived, all was calm. What took place just minutes earlier has Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly praising the victim as a hero.
The incident occurred after a man in a silver Toyota Tacoma allegedly pulled out in front of a biker and his wife, cutting them off. The pair says the driver, who has been identified as 50-year-old Rafael Vincent Rivera, pulled over and jumped out of his vehicle to confront them. The couple says the suspect was armed with a knife and was already combative when he approached them.
Immediately, the biker’s wife began recording the confrontation on her cell phone, showing Rivera holding the knife and arguing with her husband. The sheriff’s office says the biker quickly grabbed his “metallic knuckles” out of concern that the incident would turn violent.
“Bro, I’m telling you don’t you f—king do it. Don’t you f—king do it,” the biker says as he tries to de-escalate the situation.
The couple argued for a moment with Rivera, who refused to leave. Suddenly, he lunged forward and slashed the knife at the biker, narrowly missing as the victim dodged the thrust. It was then that the biker decided the situation had gone far enough.
Fortunately, the biker utilized his concealed carry license. He is seen reaching into his vest and grabbing a pistol before aiming it at the attacker and ordering him to back up. Rivera instantly relents, backing away and heading to his truck to call the police.
“Put the f—king thing down right now mother—ker!” the biker yelled as he pointed his weapon at Rivera, who quickly backed away.
While on the phone with the police, Rivera implies that he was the victim, telling them that the biker pulled a gun on him. As such, when officers arrived, they detained both men while they investigated. It was only a matter of time before the truth came out.
Officers talked to witnesses and watched the video of the incident before ultimately arresting Rafael Vincent Rivera on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The biker was released without any charge. Unsurprisingly, officers have already been acquainted with Rivera.
“Rivera has been a guest in the Green Roof Inn four different times since 2015 on three felony and four misdemeanor charges involving theft and trespassing,” the sheriff’s office noted.
After reviewing the video, Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly commended the biker for practicing incredible restraint and defending himself.
“In this particular incident, the video captured by the victim’s wife clearly shows that her husband’s life was threatened. I applaud the way the motorcyclist handled this situation,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “After his life was clearly threatened, he lawfully defended himself and then de-escalated the situation. The offender is lucky he was not shot. I also remind the community to not take traffic enforcement in your own hands and control your anger. Call the Sheriff’s Office instead.”
Rafael Vincent Rivera was booked at the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility to await trial. He was not granted bond, likely due to his criminal record.
Without the wife’s video evidence of the situation, justice might not have ever been served. Of course, if the biker hadn’t been properly armed, there’s no telling what might’ve happened to him. Still, the saying holds true — don’t bring a knife to a gunfight.
