A Davenport man is facing charges after deputies say he aimed what looked like a gun at another driver during a road‑rage confrontation late Tuesday night.
The Polk County Sheriff's Office says the incident unfolded near U.S. 17‑92 and Ernie Caldwell Boulevard at about 11:14 p.m. The driver was identified as 40‑year‑old Mark Cardona.
According to victims, the driver of a silver 2013 Toyota Venza flashed his lights, cursed at them, cut off their vehicle and then pointed a weapon while threatening to shoot. Deputies say Cardona was taken into custody and transported to the sheriff's processing center.
In a post on X, the Polk County Sheriff's Office said deputies responded to a road‑rage call and arrested Cardona on scene. The post states he faces two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and notes that victims reported being threatened with a gun while deputies transported Cardona to the sheriff's processing center, according to Polk County Sheriff's Office.
“The pepper ball gun looked like a real firearm,” a deputy wrote on the Polk County Sheriff's Office X account. The post says Cardona later told deputies the device was only a pepper‑ball gun. Deputies identified the vehicle involved as a silver 2013 Toyota Venza, and victims reported that the driver cursed at them, flashed his lights and cut them off before the threat.
What the charges mean
Under Florida law, pointing a weapon at someone can be charged as aggravated assault “with a deadly weapon without intent to kill,” which is generally prosecuted as a third‑degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison and fines. Florida Statutes define aggravated assault and note that courts may consider whether an object would likely cause death or great bodily harm when used as intended. Prosecutors could still move forward even if the device turns out to be less‑lethal if it reasonably appeared to be deadly during the incident.
What we still don't know
For now, the sheriff's social post is the primary public account of the arrest; we did not find a separate press release or local news report with additional details at the time of publication. Court records and the Polk County booking log will show whether formal charges were filed and what bond, if any, was set. Hoodline will update this article when those records become available or when prosecutors file charging documents.
