A 33-year-old Oakland County man faces felony charges in connection to road rage incident where he allegedly confronted two people in an SUV with a knife during a traffic dispute in Macomb County.
The Macomb County Sheriff’s Office said Ryan Borella of Rochester Hills was arraigned Monday in 41A District Court in Shelby Township on two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of carrying a dangerous weapon.
According to deputies, the road rage incident involving an SUV and the truck took place Saturday in the area of North Avenue and 24 Mile Road in Macomb Township.
The 63-year-old Roseville man, who was the driver of the SUV, told a dispatcher the driver of the pickup truck, later identified as Borella, had exited his vehicle and approached him with a knife.
“The victim stated a passenger, a 38-year-old female, was also present in the SUV,” deputies said in a news release. “Both individuals in the SUV expressed they were fearful for their safety.”
The Roseville man said the incident began when he was traveling on North Avenue at 21 Mile Road. The suspect was unable to merge and began driving erratically, passing multiple vehicles in the southbound lanes while traveling northbound.
Borella allegedly passed the SUV before he stopped at a red light at 24 Mile Road. He exited his truck and confronted the victim.
Sheriff’s deputies eventually stopped and arrested the suspect without incident. Deputies found the knife in his vehicle.
His bond was set at at $20,000 cash or surety.
If convicted, Borella faces up to four years in prison on the assault charge and five years on dangerous weapon charge. A preliminary exam is scheduled for June 6.
Borella is also due back in 41A District Court on May 30 on a charge of driving while his license was suspended.
In a separate case, he was charged in 2023 with assaulting a Shelby Township police officer and operating while intoxicated.
In a plea bargain arrangement, he pled guilty to added counts of attempted assaulting a police officer and operating while impaired by liquor in exchange for prosecutors dismissing the initial charges.
Court records show Macomb County Circuit Court Judge Michael Servitto sentenced Borella to 18 months probation, along with 90 hours of community service.