U.S.

O.J. Charged In Fla. Road Rage Case

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

February 9, 2001 / 1:17 PM EST / CBS

O.J. Simpson surrendered to authorities Friday on charges stemming from a December traffic altercation and apparent road rage incident where a motorist accused him of reaching into his car and pulling off his glasses.

Simpson is charged with felony burglary of a car and misdemeanor battery. The charges carry a combined 16 years behind bars. But Florida State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle said Simpson would probably not serve any time if convicted.

"The goal here will be to find some sort of programming or sentence that would involve learning how to control oneself, whether it's on the road or elsewhere," Rundle said.

Simpson walked into a Miami-Dade County jail at noon Friday, then was taken to an unmarked police car and driven to the back of the sprawling jail. He was booked and posted $9,000 bond, his attorney Yale Galanter said.

O.J.'s Brushes with the Law

Simpson moved to the Miami area early last year. Since 1999, police have responded four times to reported disturbances between Simpson and his on-and-off girlfriend, Christie Prody. He was not charged in any of those incidents.

Jan. 2001 Police are summoned to Simpson's home after a neighbor called to report an argument. Prody told police Simpson was angry that she came home late. No charges are filed.

Sept. 2000 Prody accused Simpson of using a key to break into her home, erase a message on her answering machine and take a letter. She called police but did not press charges.

May 2000 Police are called to a Miami hotel after Simpson and Prody got into a loud dispute and Prody allegedly slapped and kicked him. Simpson refused to press charges.

Oct. 1999 Police respond to a 911 call Simpson placed from Prody's house. According to a police report, Simpson said Prody had been on a cocaine binge. Simpson later calls that a misunderstanding.
(AP)

Motorist Jeffrey Pattinson, 55, said Simpson caused a small scratch on his face when he pulled the glasses off during the dispute.

Pattinson told police he slammed on his brakes and honked his horn at a black Lincoln Navigator after he saw the SUV drive past a stop sign in suburban Kendall, where O.J. now lives.

The Navigator stopped, and Simpson got out and walked toward Pattinson's car, where they argued briefly, according to Pattinson's account.

Pattinson said h heard a young girl shouting, "No, Daddy, no, Daddy, no!" when Simpson reached into his car and grabbed his glasses.

Simpson has denied wrongdoing. He said Pattinson shouted at him and he shouted back, then returned to his car and drove his two youngest children home.

"Mr. Simpson, as you are aware, was not the aggressor in this incident. He looks forward to litigating the case in the Miami-Dade court system," Galanter said.

Four years ago Saturday, Simpson was found liable in a civil trial for the killings of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman in a suit filed by their families. He was ordered to pay $33.5 million in damages. A jury acquitted Simpson of the June 1994 slayings in a criminal trial.

Simpson moved to the Miami area early last year. Since then, police have responded four times to reported disturbances between Simpson and his on-and-off girlfriend, Christie Prody.

Most recently, police were called to his home in late January after a neighbor called to report an argument. Prody told police Simpson was angry that she came home late.

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