Tamaqua Police charged Nathaniel Fritz, 25, of Barnesville, with simple assault and harassment following a 5 p.m. April 10 road rage incident.

According to police, officers were sent to East Elm and North Railroad streets for a report of a road rage incident that resulted in a physical altercation and possible stabbing.

Police spoke to a man who said he was driving behind a vehicle on Route 54 in the village of Hometown when the driver pressed on his brakes. The man said he flashed his high beams, and then got into the right turn lane for Route 309. The vehicle in front of him - driven by Fritz - got behind him and followed him to Tamaqua.

He told police that Fritz got out of his car and approached him, saying, “I got time for this today, step out of your car.” The man said that Fritz then punched him through his window and when he felt blood on his face, he grabbed a pocket knife to defend himself. As Fritz went to punch him again, the man told police that he punched Fritz with the knife.

Officers said Fritz then left the scene. The man said he followed him to get his license plate number. He told police that he called the Schuylkill County communications center with the information.

Police took possession of the knife, which had blood on its blade and handle. As they were checking ownership of the vehicle, police received a call from Lehigh Valley Hospital-Hazleton regarding the stabbing.

The man who reported the incident was taken by ambulance to St. Luke’s Miners campus, and police went to Hazleton to speak to Fritz.

Officers said Fritz told them that the man was driving behind him and “flipping him off.” He told police that he got out of his car, went to the man’s car and as the man began to get out, he punched him as the man stabbed him.

Fritz said he then drove to the hospital.