Hatchet-Wielding Woman Arrested In Road Range Incident

Bossier City police arrested a Shreveport woman Tuesday following a road rage incident in which the woman chased and threatened two people with a hatchet.

Officers arrested Melissa Ann McSwain for aggravated assault and simple property damage after responding to a call about a disorderly person near the intersection of Patricia Drive and Michael Drive. The victim told police the incident started as she was backing her car out of a driveway in the 1200 block of Waller Avenue when another vehicle going west on Waller quickly swerved around her. The victim and her female passenger proceeded down Waller Avenue and at one point stopped behind the suspect vehicle at a stop sign when its driver, later identified as McSwain, got out of her car. According to the victim, McSwain kicked the victim’s car.  McSwain then got back into her car, chased the victim down Patricia Drive and allegedly ran her off the road.

The victim says she and her passenger ran from the scene and called police after McSwain got out of her car with a hatchet and ran toward their vehicle. McSwain then drove off.

While officers were talking to the victim and her passenger at the scene, McSwain drove by and was identified as the suspect. Police stopped McSwain’s car and took her into custody. They also recovered a hatchet from inside her vehicle. She was subsequently booked into the Bossier City Jail. Bond is set at $1500.