For the week of October 15 - 21, 2003

Bellevue man is
arrested after
wielding gun in traffic

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"It’s ridiculous. It’s absolutely ridiculous that everybody doesn’t use the right lane (on Highway 75). I just don’t get it."

— WALT FEMLING, Blaine County Sheriff

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By GREG STAHL
Express Staff Writer

Road rage boiled over the top last week when a Bellevue man allegedly wielded a handgun at people in an automobile attempting to pass him on state Highway 75 south of Ketchum.

Stephen M. Bowcut, 44, was arrested on aggravated assault charges following the reported incident, which occurred on Thursday, Oct. 9, a little after 5 p.m., said Blaine County Sheriff Walt Femling.

While traveling south through the Elkhorn traffic light, Hailey residents Jaime R. Lerma, 24, and Cristian A. Perez, 17, attempted to pass a string of cars, but Bowcut pulled into the right, passing lane to block the move, Femling said.

Femling said the commuters shared a few hostile gestures before Bowcut pulled a Smith and Wesson .40 caliber handgun, displayed it and pointed it through the rear window of his vehicle at the two Hailey residents.

He did not fire the weapon, Femling said.

Using a cellular telephone, Lerma called 911, and sheriff’s deputies stopped Bowcut on Buttercup Road, north of Hailey.

The weapon was confiscated, and Bowcut was taken to the Blaine County Jail.

"It’s ridiculous. It’s absolutely ridiculous that everybody doesn’t use the right lane (on Highway 75)," Femling said. "I just don’t get it."

 

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