Two Arrested in Tuesday's Road Rage Incident Suspects charged with assault and battery

The bicycle belonging to Stephen Lee (CAS’10) was damaged in the road rage incident Monday afternoon on Comm Ave. Lee was shaken, but his injuries were minor. Photo by Joe Chan

Boston Police arrested two men in connection with a road rage incident at the intersection of Comm Ave and Essex Street during Tuesday afternoon’s rush hour.

Rocky Jace, 39, of Providence, R.I., faces multiple charges, including assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon, driving to endanger, malicious destruction of property, and various motor vehicle violations.

Nick Miller, 42, also of Providence, was charged with assault and battery (injuries) and malicious destruction of property.

The incident occurred at about 4:15 p.m. According to Boston Police, a police officer near 900 Commonwealth Avenue noticed a sport utility vehicle with a smashed window, driven by Miller, strike a bicyclist, identified as Stephen Lee (CAS’10). Police say the vehicle dragged the bicycle through the red light. Lee was able to leap to safety.

According to police, Jace left his SUV, which was pulled over on the other side of the intersection, with a tire iron, ran through oncoming traffic to Miller’s SUV, and smashed the windshield. Police report that Jace dropped the tire iron as an officer approached him.

Eyewitnesses told officers at the scene that the suspects had been involved in a “road rage fight.” Witnesses stated that Miller smashed the rear and side windows of the vehicle driven by Jace, before Jace used the tire iron on Miller’s SUV.

Officers say both men admitted using weapons to damage the other’s vehicle. The two men told police they knew each other through work.

Jace and Miller were arrested and booked at District D-14 in Brighton.

Lee sustained bruises and scrapes during the road rage incident, but declined medical attention. He told BU Today at the scene that he was so frightened that he couldn’t recall jumping from his bike.

Additional reporting by Art Jahnke and Amy Laskowski.