Columbia man charged with stalking after following victim, blocking car at busy intersection

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia man was charged with stalking and a number of misdemeanors following an alleged road rage incident that led to police blocking lanes on Thursday night on South Providence Road.

Jason Rowe, 41, was charged with first-degree stalking, driving while intoxicated, resisting arrest, reckless driving and four-degree domestic assault.

According to the probable cause statement, a woman had called EMS while she was driving an being followed by Rowe. The woman had planned to drive straight to the Columbia Police Department. She told joint communications that she thought Rowe was going to ram into her with his black Toyota Highlander.

A Columbia police officer saw both vehicles on South Providence Road near Turner Avenue, the statement says. Police saw the Toyota driving “extremely close” to the other vehicle. Police tried to initiate a traffic stop, but Rowe kept driving, the statement says.

At the intersection of South Providence Road and East Broadway, Rowe turned into the right turn lane, and parked close enough to the victim could not open their driver-side door, pull forward or turn, the statement says.

Rowe then got out of his vehicle and police told him to put his hands up, the statement says. Rowe then started hitting the victim’s vehicle. He then continued to go in and out of his vehicle, the statement says. Rowe got out of the vehicle again and continued to ignore police order and officers eventually used a Taser to detain him, the statement says. Police were able to smell alcohol on Rowe’s breath and he admitted to drinking, the statement says.

Police administered a breath test and Rowe’s blood alcohol content was .193, the statement says.

The victim told police that Rowe had been sitting across from her residence – which he did not live at -- before she called first responders