Mirror bump leads to shooting, arrest in Erie Township

A Michigan man might want to take a deep breath the next time he gets into an accident.

Authorities said the 61-year-old Erie Township man got out of his vehicle and fired a pistol three times to "gain the attention" of another driver after their outside mirrors bumped Monday about 6:15 p.m.

The vehicles were headed in the opposite direction on Luna Pier Road, east of Bay Creek Road, in Erie Township, according to a news release from the Monroe County Sheriff's Office.

No one was injured, and the other vehicle, which was westbound on Luna Pier Road, was not hit by gunfire.

The man, who has a valid license to carry a concealed pistol, admitted to a Monroe County Sheriff's Office deputy that he had fired at the other vehicle.

"According to witnesses, just after the minor crash occurred, the subject immediately exited the driver side of his stopped vehicle, retrieved a pistol from his waist area, and then fired the pistol several times towards the opposing vehicle," the release said.

The man, whose name is being withheld pending the filing of weapons-related charges, was arrested and is being held at the Monroe County Jail.

Anyone with information is asked to call Monroe County Sheriff's Deputy Ryan Sottile at 734-240-7567.

Contact Eric D. Lawrence: elawrence@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter: @_ericdlawrence