Road rage in school pickup line

A man was arrested after deputies responded to a call around 3:14 p.m. Sept. 19 in the school pickup line for the elementary school (near the tennis courts). Robert Ledford, 36, of Molena, faces charges of battery and cruelty to children in the third degree.

“Deputies responded to a call about a fight in the car line of the elementary school. Witnesses told deputies they had seen Mr. Ledford get out of his vehicle, approach the vehicle of the victim and begin striking him through the window and that he also tried to pull the victim out of the vehicle,” said PCSO investigator Maj. David Neal. “When deputies spoke to Mr. Ledford, he said he was upset because he felt the vehicle had cut him off. He was arrested and taken to Pike County jail.”

Ledford was bonded out of jail on a $3,000 bond around 5:30 p.m. Sept. 19. Ledford previously worked in law enforcement until he resigned in 2018. The bond order states Ledford shall not have any contact with the alleged victim or any witnesses and that he “shall not possess any firearms or ammunition during the pendency of this case in any location or capacity.”

Maj. Neal said the victim was struck multiple times and that he sought medical treatment.

“There was an 8-year-old in the vehicle and that was why Mr. Landford was charged with cruelty to children because the child was a witness to his actions. He was charged with battery also,” said Maj. Neal.

Maj. Neal said deputies responded quickly and kept the situation from getting worse.
“Officers were able to coordinate with school personnel to establish what happened,” he said.