'Uncalled for': Enraged driver shoots into air next to car with child inside, Haines City police say

HAINES CITY, Fla. (WFLA) — An apparent road rage incident in Haines City ended with a driver behind bars after police said the driver took out a gun and fired multiple shots into the air.

The incident happened just before 8 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 6, near U.S. Highway 27 and Davenport Boulevard, according to the Haines City Police Department.

The suspect, Charles Fitzalbert Worges, 46, is believed to have started a fight with another driver who had a 3-year-old child in his backseat.

According to investigators, the victim was heading northbound on U.S. Highway 27 when Worges, who was driving a white Lexus SUV, pulled out in front of him, forcing the victim to take evasive action to avoid a collision.

After the victim regained control of his lane in front of the Lexus, Worges moved into the center lane and pulled up next to the passenger side of the victim’s vehicle, according to police.

That’s when multiple gunshots were heard.

Video from the victim’s in-car camera captured Worges sticking his arm out the driver’s side window of the Lexus. Police said Worges was holding a gun, and three visible puffs of smoke could be seen on the video as shots were fired into the air.

Investigators also found three spent 9mm shell casings in the roadway near where the incident unfolded, according to the police department.

The victim provided dispatchers with the suspect’s license plate number, and officers were able to trace the plate back to a woman who said she had let her friend, Worges, drive her car while she was at work.

Worges was later arrested by Haines City police during a traffic stop. He was charged with one count of discharging a firearm from within a vehicle and one count of aggravated assault with a firearm.

“It’s a miracle that no one was seriously injured during this uncalled-for incident,” said Haines City Police Chief Jay Hopwood. “Not only for the driver and his 3-year-old, but also for everyone nearby. What goes up must come down — firing a weapon into the air is reckless and dangerous. Those stray bullets could have easily hurt or killed someone. People need to slow down, be patient, and drive responsibly so everyone can reach their destinations safely.”