BARTOW, FL – On Sunday, December 14, 2025, deputies from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested 64-year-old Stephen J. Phillips of Mulberry, after a reported road rage incident.
At approximately 11:38 a.m., detectives responded to the 2000 block of Mary Holland Park at Shumate Drive in Bartow.
The victims, including a 3-year-old child, were traveling southbound on Harden Boulevard near Pipkin Road in a vehicle when they encountered Phillips driving a Hyundai Santa Fe. Phillips drove erratically and performed a brake check on the victims’ vehicle.
After the victims passed Phillips’ vehicle, both stopped side by side at a traffic light. Phillips displayed a silver semi-automatic firearm, pointed it toward the victims with his finger on the trigger, and made repeated racial slurs.
Phillips initially denied displaying the firearm but later admitted to pulling it out, stating he did not believe he pointed it at the victims.
The victims provided a photo showing Phillips holding a .22 caliber Phoenix Arms HP firearm.
Phillips was charged with three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and one count of improper exhibition of a firearm. Nothing further at this time.
Source: Polk County Sheriff’s Office
