Gardnerville man arrested after road-rage incident

A Gardnerville man was arrested Tuesday after he allegedly threatened three women, yelled obscenities, and flashed a badge in an apparent incident of road rage, an official said Wednesday.

Frank Holton, 51, a truck driver, is being held in the Douglas County Jail on suspicion of driving under the influence, destruction of property and impersonating a police officer.

According to Douglas County Sheriff's Sgt. Tom Mezzetta, three "hysterical" women ranging in age from 18-20 stormed into the Douglas County Sheriff's substation in the Gardnerville Ranchos and told an officer Holton had chased them from Carson City. He had also pulled into the parking lot of the sheriff's substation.

The women alleged that Holton first confronted them in Carson City on Saliman Road, where he allegedly pulled alongside their vehicle and began to yell obscenities while making hand gestures to imply that he was armed with a firearm.

At one point, the women pulled off the roadway and stopped, hoping Holton would continue driving by, but, according to the women, he pulled in behind them and approached their vehicle, striking at the windows and trying to open the passenger door.

When the women sped away, Holton followed, Mezzetta said. While at a traffic light, he allegedly flashed a badge at the women.

The women said they attempted to get away and had yelled to numerous other drivers to call for help. One driver did call 911, but deputies were unable to locate the vehicles.

When Holton was interviewed, it was determined that he was under the influence of alcohol. The badge he displayed was discovered to be a volunteer firefighter badge for Gardnerville Ranchos, where Holton is a volunteer, Mezzetta said.

"Incidents of road rage can and frequently do escalate very quickly," Mezzetta said. "Should anyone find himself or herself challenged by another driver, the worst thing you can do is to respond aggressively or in kind. Allow the other driver to pass by and notify law enforcement. There are many rights in this nation worth standing for. The right-of-way is not one of them."