White River Junction
Christopher Rourke was arraigned in Windsor Superior Court on Tuesday on four counts of reckless endangerment and one charge of aiming a firearm.
Judge Timothy Tomasi released him on conditions.
Rourke allegedly drove up behind Cory Edwards and Lillian Zimmermann’s vehicle as they all drove southbound on Interstate 89 and started tailgating them. Rourke then allegedly pulled beside Edwards and Zimmermann’s vehicle and pointed a 9mm pistol at them, according to an affidavit written by Vermont State Trooper Gary Salvatore.
Edwards and Zimmermann, of Hartford, had two young children in the backseat at the time.
Edwards called police, and told the dispatcher that Rourke exited the highway at Exit 8 in Weathersfield. A police officer soon located Rourke and found a loaded 9mm in his vehicle, the affidavit states.
Rourke told police a different version of events.
He said Edwards slammed on his brakes on the interstate, causing Rourke to have to apply his brakes as well. When he did, his pistol, which was in a holster, jammed into his hip, so he removed it and put it on the front seat of his truck, the affidavit states.
“He advised that at no point did he ever point his pistol at the other operator,” Salvatore wrote, adding that Rourke was “extremely arrogant and irate” during an initial conversation.
Rourke had one round in the chamber and three additional rounds in the magazine, the affidavit states.
He will next appear in the White River Junction courthouse on July 11.