In a concerning road rage incident on I-75 in Alachua County, Florida, Monique Dashay Harrington, a 43-year-old from Ft. White, found herself in legal trouble after being accused of brandishing a firearm. The unsettling encounter was reported by a fellow driver who claimed Harrington had pointed a gun at her during an altercation.
The incident unfolded late on the night of May 9, when, around 11:17 p.m., deputies from the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to investigate an armed disturbance near the 377-mile marker, just south of Williston Road. The responding officers eventually caught up with the distressed victim at the 390-mile marker by NW 39th Avenue. They observed that she appeared visibly shaken, drenched in sweat, and clearly upset by the ordeal.
The victim recounted that while traveling northbound on I-75, she began to feel uneasy as a black Jeep started tailgating her. The Jeep’s driver allegedly flashed the vehicle’s lights, seemingly urging her to switch lanes. When she did not comply, the situation escalated. The Jeep maneuvered in front of her, slowing down deliberately. In response, she flashed her lights at the Jeep.
As tensions rose, the Jeep aligned itself beside her car, and an object was reportedly hurled from its window, striking her vehicle. In retaliation, she admitted to throwing an object back at the Jeep. Attempting to escape the confrontation, she accelerated, but the Jeep pursued her relentlessly, maintaining its position beside her vehicle.
At this point, the victim alleged that a female passenger in the Jeep, identifiable by a red jacket, aimed a black or silver firearm at her. Fearing for her safety, she immediately dialed 911 while continuing her efforts to outpace the menacing vehicle.
The victim said she tried to speed away from the Jeep, but it followed her, remaining alongside her vehicle, then the female passenger, who was wearing a red jacket, pointed a black or silver firearm out the window at her, so she called 911 while continuing her attempts to speed away from the Jeep.
Post Miranda, Harrington reportedly said she had been asleep in the passenger seat of the Jeep and was awakened when the driver became angry about a white sedan in front of them, which was swerving and brake-checking them and also threw a drink at their vehicle. Harrington reportedly said she rolled the window down and motioned toward the white sedan with a glass water bottle that has a silver cap, as if she were going to throw the bottle, but she did not. She reportedly admitted to having weapons in the car but denied brandishing them.
A search of the Jeep reportedly produced a black handgun in a small bag under the driver’s seat and a silver handgun in the glove box on the passenger side; a red jacket was found on the center console.
Harrington has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Her criminal history is unavailable; Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $40,000.
Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law
