A Schuylkill Haven man has been charged after a road rage incident in a Berks County parking lot earlier this month.
a in red Chevy HHR, became disgruntled over a parking space in the Tilden Wal Mart parking lot that he felt the victim took from him.
The suspect circled the parking lot and waited for the victim and his family, which consisted of him, his girlfriend and their 3 year old child, to exit their vehicle.
At that time, the suspect drove to the far end of the front travel lane and made a U-turn. As the family began to exit their vehicle and walk towards the cross walk, the suspect drove through the travel lane at a high rate of speed and attempted to strike the family of three. The victim who was holding his child had to step back to avoid being struck.
The suspect then stopped his vehicle, opened his driver's door and berated the family for taking "his parking space."
The suspect then waited for the family to enter Walmart and parked his vehicle. At that time, the suspect vandalized the victim’s vehicle and got back in his vehicle and left the scene.
Through an investigation, the suspect was later identified as Thomas Hablett, 53, of Schuylkill Haven.
Police said, on September 8th, 2021, Hablett was interviewed by Tilden Township Police and Pennsylvania State Police at his residence.
Hablett told police that someone "stole" his parking space. He said he did confront the person who did that by yelling at them and then drove off.
On September 13th, 2021, a warrant of arrest was obtained by Tilden Township Police for HABLETT on charges of Aggravated Assault, Aggravated Assault with weapon, Aggravated Assault where the victim is under 18, Simple Assault, Simple Assault menacing, Recklessly Endangering Another Person, Disorderly Conduct, Criminal Mischief, and various traffic offenses including reckless and careless driving.
On September 22nd, 2021 at 6:45am, members of the U.S. Marshal's Fugitive Task Force, consisting of agencies from Berks and Schuylkill counties, arrested Hablett at his residence in Schuylkill Haven without incident.
Hablett was then turned over to the Berks County Sheriff's Office for processing.
He was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Kim L. Bagenstose, Hamburg, and released on $25,000 unsecured bail.
A preliminary hearing is set for October 18th, 2021.