Yakima police spokesman on leave after alleged road rage

YAKIMA, Wash. — The spokesman for the Yakima Police Department was placed on administrative leave last month as the agency investigates his role in an alleged road rage incident.

Citing public records, the Herald-Republic reports that a woman said Mike Bastinelli followed her after she ran a stop sign in July. She said he confronted her when she stopped, berated her and seemed to imply that he could do something about the traffic violation.

Bastinelli, who has worked as a police public information specialist since 2014, is not a police officer.

Bastinelli told investigators he followed the woman as a citizen and didn't use the fact that he works for the police department to wield authority.

He declined to comment to the newspaper. He was ordered not to speak publicly about the investigation as part of his leave.

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Associated Press