FARMINGTON — A Jay man is accused of pointing a loaded handgun at a vehicle with children in it several times as he drove, with children in his vehicle, from Jay to Wilton and Farmington.

The road-rage incident began near the Jay Transfer Station on Route 4 in North Jay at about 1 p.m. Saturday, Jay Police Chief Richard Caton IV said Monday. 

Farmington police Detective Marc Bowering said he and officer Justin Blais stopped a truck driven by Jacob A. Couture, 26, near Mt. Blue Plaza on Routes 2 and 4.

Couture was arrested by Farmington police on a Class C charge of terrorizing with a dangerous weapon and a Class D charge of endangering the welfare of a child.

Jay police officer Stephanie Guillemette and Wilton officer Ethan Kyes each issued a summons to Couture on a Class C charge of terrorizing with a dangerous weapon. Those summonses will be sent to the District Attorney’s Office for review, Caton and Wilton Police Chief Heidi Wilcox said.

Couture’s vehicle was following and passing the other vehicle, Caton said. Witnesses said he pointed the firearm at their vehicle in all three towns, he said.

The two parties were strangers, Bowering said.

Farmington police searched Couture’s truck and found a loaded handgun that matched the description of the firearm witnesses gave to police, Bowering said.

A conviction on the terrorizing charge carries a penalty of up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. The endangering charge is punishable by up to 364 days in jail and a $2,000 fine.

Couture was released from the Franklin County jail Monday morning on $5,000 cash bail, a corrections officer said.

dperry@sunmediagroup.net