PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — Tim Montes' blood still stains the parking lot of the rest stop along Interstate 75 North near Wesley Chapel.
“I just started spitting out all this blood,” he said, describing the moments after he was punched in the face.
Montes, who does 24/7 roadside assistance for Roadside Guy LLC, was pulling into the rest area Tuesday evening to help a customer who had a flat.
The driver in front of him, Richard Riscol, later told Pasco County deputies that Montes was tailgating him. He pulled over and exchanged some words with Montes.
Then, Montes pulled into the parking lot, and he says Riscol followed him. The guy got out of his car and came toward him while screaming profanities, Montes said.
“All I said was, 'Hey, get away from me,’ and I was getting out of the car as I was saying that,” he explained. “As soon as I stood out of the car, he punched me across the face.”
During the scuffle, Montes reached for the gun he keeps in his car, but the man backed away before he got to it.
“He was kind of lucky at that point that I didn't have quick access to it, because it could've ended badly,” Montes said.
Instead, Montes called 911 and deputies arrested Riscol for battery.
“Hopefully he learns from this one experience,” Montes said.
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