Man held in Monroe road-rage assault

MONROE — A road-rage-related assault in Monroe on Tuesday left a Monroe woman with minor injuries.

An Arlington man, 40, was arrested and booked into jail for investigation of assault, Monroe police spokeswoman Debbie Willis said.

The incident happened about 8 a.m. at the intersection of Fryelands Boulevard SE and U.S. 2.

The Monroe woman, Brandi Troka, 28, was driving a sport utility vehicle with three passengers, including a man and two children, 2 and 4.

At some point, the man in her car got into an argument with the Arlington man, who was driving a pickup on the same road, Willis said.

When both vehicles stopped at the intersection, the Arlington man got out of his car and allegedly began punching the SUV passenger.

Detectives who happened to be in the area saw the whole exchange and were approaching the scene when the Arlington man got back in his truck, Willis said.

Troka, the SUV driver, then got out of her vehicle and stepped in front of the pickup. The pickup started driving, and Troka was dragged a short distance, Willis said. She was taken to Valley General Hospital for treatment. Troka spoke with the Herald’s news partner, KIRO-TV, Channel 7.

“He knew I was a mother,” she said. “He saw all these kids right here. I told him over and over, there are kids here. And then he drug a mother down the street — over road rage?”