The suspect, 39-yaer-old Mark Cook, and his Chevy Malibu had been rear ended by 28-year-old Jason Foster, driving a Chevy truck. Foster left the scene and Cook followed him recklessly and ultimately blocked Foster’s vehicle at the dead end of Shepherd Road and Poultry Farm Lane, which caused a minor crash, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office says.
Cook exited his vehicle, pointing a small black handgun and threatened Foster’s while approaching his vehicle. Police say Cook then opened Foster’s driver door and punched him while displaying the weapon on his waistband.
Foster was able to shut the door and protect himself and his 5-year-old son until police arrived. Deputies responded and found that no traffic crash had occurred at the original incident scene, as Cook claimed.
Cook was arrested for and charged with two counts of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon (gun), two counts of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon (car), two counts of Child Neglect and Armed Burglary of a Conveyance.
He is being charged with two counts of child neglect because his 2-year-old daughter was in his vehicle at the time.
