An Oakland County driver is behind bars after a dangerous road rage encounter armed with a knife, according to local authorities. Ryan Borella, 33, from Rochester Hills, was charged with felony assault and weapons charges stemming from the incident in Macomb Township.
The Macomb Sheriff’s Office reported that the altercation took place at a red light where Borella, who couldn't merge into traffic, began driving erratically and eventually stopped at North Avenue and 24 Mile Road. At that point, according to Macomb Daily, Borella approached an SUV, armed with a knife, confronting a 63-year-old driver and his 38-year-old female passenger. Both victims voiced their fear for safety, telling the dispatcher about the knife-wielding man.
The incident began when Borella, unable to merge onto North Avenue at 21 Mile Road, started bypassing cars on the southbound lane while heading north. A witness captured part of the troubling exchange on video, showing the man, later identified as Borella, exiting his pickup truck at the red light and confronting the SUV occupants, according to the sheriff’s statements obtained by Patch.
Law enforcement officials arrested Borella, "The suspect left the scene, but he was identified, located, and arrested without incident. A knife was found in his truck, " according to a report by WWJ Newsradio. He has been charged with one count of carrying a dangerous weapon with unlawful intent and two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, facing a potential nine years in prison if convicted of these charges.
While awaiting legal proceedings, Borella’s bond was set at $20,000 cash or surety. His history of run-ins with the law includes a 2023 charge for assaulting a Shelby Township police officer and driving while intoxicated, which resulted in an 18-month probation and 90 hours of community service, as found in the court records.
