**UPDATE**

Florence, Ariz. – On October 2nd at approximately 1205 hours the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by the Apache Junction Police Department and requested to respond to the area of Old West Highway and Idaho Rd in Apache Junction reference a two vehicle accident with injuries involving Vice Mayor R.E. Eck.

The accident resulted in an incident of “road rage” between Vice Mayor Eck and Eric Martinez, the driver of a motorcycle that Vice Mayor Eck’s vehicle struck from behind.

The investigation revealed the vehicle Vice Mayor Eck was operating struck the rear of Mr. Martinez’s motorcycle while it was stopped at a red light on Old West Highway and Idaho Road. After the motorcycle was hit Mr. Martinez, driver of the motorcycle, got off his motorcycle and was confronted by the passenger of Vice Mayor Eck’s vehicle (later identified as Robert Eck III) who attempted to strike Mr. Martinez with a pipe. After disarming Mr. Eck III and striking him with a closed fist in the face, Martinez confronted Vice Mayor Eck who had apparently threatened to run over the motorcycle with Mr. Martinez’s wife still on board. Following the threat, Mr. Martinez assaulted Vice Mayor Eck by striking him, with a closed fist, in the face. Mr. Eck responded by accelerating and ramming the motorcycle causing Mrs. Martinez to be knocked off of it and onto the roadway sustaining minor injuries.

Both Mrs. Martinez and Vice Mayor Eck were transported to Scottsdale Osborne Hospital for minor injuries. Both were released from the hospital the evening of the incident.

Mr. Eric Martinez was charged with 2 counts of misdemeanor Assault and will appear in the Apache Junction Justice Court at a later date.

Investigators have requested Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon charges be filed against Vice Mayor R.E. Eck for his involvement in the incident. Blood was drawn from Mr. Eck and has been sent to the DPS Crime Lab for processing. Investigators will determine if additional charges need to be filed once the results of the blood tests are received.

No further information is available at this time.

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