With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today .
Tesla Driver Charged In Connection With Multiple Incidents Of Road Rage
A driver has been charged with threatening people and damaging their vehicles on Southern California roadways.
(
Chava Sanchez
/
LAist
)
The Los Angeles District Attorney's Office has announced charges against a man accused of threatening multiple people on roadways throughout Southern California dating back as far as 2020.
Prosecutors say that as recently as last month, Nathaniel Radimak, 36, allegedly got out of his Tesla on the 2 Freeway and struck a vehicle with a pipe. On the same day, he allegedly followed a couple from a shopping mall in Pasadena and almost hit a car.
Previous Incidents
Radimak is also accused of threatening to attack a woman at a storage facility in Atwater Village on Nov. 9, 2022. That same day, he allegedly got out of his car on the freeway and broke a woman's headlights.
Support for LAist comes from
Last summer, prosecutors say Radimak is the man who threatened an elderly woman outside a doctor's office in Glendale.
Radimak also has a pending case stemming from January 2020 when he allegedly attacked another driver in a road rage incident that happened in Hollywood.
Radimak has pleaded not guilty.
In a statement announcing the charges on Tuesday, District Attorney Gascón said:
“The victims in this case were reasonably terrified by what they experienced, but this reign of terror ends today. Motorists in Los Angeles shouldn’t have to live in fear of being attacked while simply driving on the freeway. Our office will continue to work with our partners in law enforcement to determine if this person has committed similar acts against people in Los Angeles County and elsewhere.”
What Are The Charges?
The charges agains Radimak include:
- Four counts each of assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury and criminal threats
- One felony county of vandalism
- Two misdemeanor counts of vandalism
- One misdemeanor count of elder abuse.
What's Next
Radimak is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Feb. 14th. Prosecutors said they asked for, and got, a judge to "preventatively" detain him, citing "his lengthy criminal history which spans nearly two decades and crosses multiple states and jurisdictions" and the chance that he might flee. Current L.A. County jail records list a $5 million bail amount.
Support for LAist comes from
Updated February 1, 2023 at 2:44 PM PST
This article was updated with Radimak's age and additional details from prosecutors and jail records.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The study found recipients spent nearly all the money on basic needs like food and transportation, not drugs or alcohol. -
Kevin Lee's Tokyo Noir has become one of the top spots for craft-inspired cocktails. -
A tort claim obtained by LAist via a public records request alleges the Anaheim procurement department lacks basic contracting procedures and oversight. -
Flauta, taquito, tacos dorados? Whatever they’re called, they’re golden, crispy and delicious. -
If California redistricts, the conservative beach town that banned LGBTQ Pride flags on city property would get a gay, progressive Democrat in Congress. -
Most survivors of January's fires face a massive gap in the money they need to rebuild, and funding to help is moving too slowly or nonexistent.
Best of LAist