DATE: 07-14-2026
SUBJECT: Deputies Arrest Driver Following Road Rage Incident Involving Handgun
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-NR-0714
CONTACT: Major Matt Corn
AUTHORITY: Sheriff Noah Robinson
A Petersburg man was arrested Monday afternoon after Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office deputies located him following a reported road rage incident in which a handgun was allegedly displayed to another motorist.
At approximately 12:42 p.m. on July 13, 2026, Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office deputies received a Be On the Lookout (BOL) from Central Dispatch for a blue Dodge Neon after a caller reported that the driver had displayed a handgun during a confrontation near the intersection of Inglefield Road and U.S. Highway 41.
Within minutes, a deputy located the vehicle traveling south on U.S. Highway 41 near Lynch Road and conducted a traffic stop at a nearby gas station in the 2000 block of Lynch Road. The driver was identified as Mason Gosciniak, 19, of Petersburg, Indiana, and was taken into custody without incident.
During the investigation, deputies determined the incident stemmed from a road rage encounter between Gosciniak and another motorist. According to investigators, Gosciniak admitted to retrieving a handgun from the driver’s door compartment and intentionally displaying it during the confrontation while making a statement intended to discourage the other driver from approaching him.
The other driver told deputies he feared Gosciniak would use the firearm and immediately left the area before calling 911. During a subsequent interview, the victim acknowledged making a verbal statement during the confrontation but advised he left because he was concerned for his safety after seeing the handgun.
Based on the investigation, deputies established probable cause to arrest Gosciniak. He was transported to the Vanderburgh County Jail and booked without further incident.
The Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office reminds motorists that disagreements on the roadway can escalate quickly. Drivers should avoid engaging in confrontations and should never display or use a firearm to intimidate another person. Anyone involved in a road rage incident should safely disengage and report the incident to law enforcement.
SUSPECT:
Mason Gosciniak, 19 years old, Petersburgh, Indiana
CHARGES:
Intimidation with a Deadly Weapon – Level 5 Felony
Presumption of Innocence Notice: The fact that a person has been arrested or charged with a crime is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.