Douglas County prosecutors have charged a 48-year-old Lawrence man with robbery after he allegedly attacked a fellow motorist during a road rage incident Thursday afternoon, striking the victim and stealing his eyeglasses.

The victim reported to police that he became involved in a confrontation with the driver of a white van while traveling west in the 500 block of west 19th Street about 6 p.m. Thursday, said Kim Murphree, a Lawrence Police Department spokeswoman. Angered at how close the white van was following him, the victim “made a gesture” at the other driver, Murphree said. When the vehicles were stopped, the driver of the van stepped out and approached the victim in his car.

The victim told police that the driver of the van struck him with the palm of his hand, grabbed the eyeglasses from his face, walked back to the van and drove away.

Police arrested John Brian Crawford about two hours later in the 2700 block of Louisiana Street. He was booked into Douglas County Jail, where he remained Friday as Douglas County prosecutors charged him with robbery. Bond in the case was set at $10,000, and Crawford is scheduled to appear in court again on June 13. It was not clear Friday if Crawford had yet hired an attorney.

If convicted of felony robbery, Crawford could face between 55 months and 20 years in prison, depending on his criminal history.