Refusing to show his face in court, 25-year-old Ryan Kobus of Leominster, Massachusetts, was arraigned on felony assault and battery charges in East Brookfield District Court Thursday, stemming from an alleged road rage incident on Rt. 122 in the town of Barre Saturday night.
Prosecutors say Kobus was tailgating and honking at 71-year-old Walter Young of Florida, and when Young pulled over, Kobus allegedly got of out his SUV and assaulted the elderly man.
"Pulled him out of the car, struck him several times, according to the report by the Barre police department he suffered severe injuries including a brain bleed, stitches to a lip and other bruises," Assistant District Attorney Dannon Stacer said.
"I was just in shock, I just wanted to get out of there, it was just crazy," said Haili Bibeau, Kobus's brother Nick's fiancé.
She says despite pressure from Ryan's mother, she and Nick went to the police on Monday.
"It wasn't good what happened and I just wanted it to end," Bibeau said.
According to police, Ryan Kobus has a lengthy criminal record, including kidnapping, assault with intent to kill, and allegedly even served time for stabbing his brother Nick.
Massachusetts
The latest news from around the state
Bibeau says on Saturday they spent time with Ryan for the first time in more than a year, taking their two children to Rutland State Park with Ryan, his fiancé and their child, before the road rage incident happened.
She says even Ryan seemed in shock after what happened.
"He could believe how old he was, when he got a good look at him I think after he was very shaky and he couldn't believe what he did either," Bibeau said.
Kobus is being held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing scheduled for Sept. 22.
