Road rage suspect faces possible deportation (Island Packet)

Road rage suspect faces possible deportation
Published Monday, October 6, 2008

A Bluffton man wanted for allegedly punching a motorist during a road rage incident last month was arrested after detectives determined he has an extensive criminal history that includes murder, according to a Beaufort County sheriff's report released Sunday.

The 32-year-old man was arrested during a traffic stop Thursday morning and charged with simple assault. The Island Packet does not normally name those charged with misdemeanors.

A sheriff's deputy trained to enforce immigration law determined the man had an "extensive criminal history ranging from the sale of illegal drugs to murder," according to the report.

It was unclear where those incidents occurred and whether he was convicted of any charges.

The man was born in Mexico and already had been deported twice from the U.S. He is being held again for U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, which plans to move forward with deportation hearings, the report said.

On Sept. 15, the man and another motorist exchanged words on U.S. 278 and Burnt Church Road in Bluffton. The man allegedly punched the other driver twice as the driver attempted to get a gun out of his glove box.