A 30-year-old Mt. Vernon man has been ordered held without bond after being charged with armed violence, unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon, aggravated battery, possession of a controlled substance, and unlawful possession of cannabis following a road rage incident on Saturday.
Marion County Sheriff’s Deputies say Rodney Moore of Main Street became upset after his vehicle was rear-ended on U.S. 50 east of Odin. According to witnesses, Moore allegedly grabbed the other driver by the neck and later took the other driver’s keys at one point allegedly saying he should kill him. After the passenger in Moore’s car told him to stop, he repeated, ‘no, I should kill him.’
Moore told the deputy he took the keys because the other driver didn’t have insurance, and he feared he would leave the scene of the accident.
A search was conducted after the Salem canine alerted on the vehicle. During the search a handgun, six small baggies that contained what field tested as cocaine and between 30 and 100 grams of cannabis were allegedly located.
In ordering Moore held without bond, Judge Erika Sanders noted Moore was on pretrial release from a felony in Jefferson County, the location of the gun and cocaine in the vehicle, and his history of violent offenses.
Moore is due back in court for a preliminary hearing on October 28th. A public defender has been appointed to represent him.
