Coeur d'Alene man sentenced to 15 years after road rage incident

COEUR d’ALENE — A Coeur d’Alene man was sentenced to 15 years in prison for what prosecutors described as a road rage incident May 27.

Taner James Bradley, 27, was sentenced Sept. 18 after being convicted of aggravated battery, battery and excessive DUI. 

The incident began when the victim, who was driving with three minor children, was stopped at a red light. After hearing broken glass, the victim looked in his rearview mirror and spotted Bradley violently striking the windshield of his own car, according to court records.  

When the light turned green, the victim proceeded through the intersection, but Bradley pursued him, rear-ending the victim’s vehicle multiple times, prosecutors said. The victim attempted to get away from Bradley, but Bradley rear-ended the victim’s vehicle several more times. At one point, they were traveling up to 100 mph, prosecutors said. 

After the victim reached his destination, Bradley confronted him in what was described as a violent manner. A bystander intervened, but Bradley reacted with aggression, punching the person. The victim intervened, punching Bradley several times before wrestling him to the ground and holding him there until officers arrived, prosecutors said. 

Upon arrest, Bradley displayed erratic behavior, allegedly shouting expletives about the police and exhibiting signs of intoxication, prosecutors said. He was later evaluated at a local hospital, where he allegedly admitted to recent alcohol and methamphetamine use. Breath tests revealed a blood alcohol content of 0.231 and 0.229, nearly three times the legal limit. 

At sentencing, Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Art Verharen recommended the maximum penalty of 15 years, citing Bradley's extensive criminal history, which includes previous convictions for assaulting police officers, resisting arrest and felony drug possession.  

District Judge Barry McHugh ultimately sentenced him to 15 years for aggravated battery, with the possibility of parole after five years, alongside credit for time served on the other charges of battery and excessive DUI.