Irvine Man Arrested for Hate Crime in Road Rage Assault

Robert Leon Tackett, 54, was arrested in Irvine on charges of hate crime and aggravated assault following a road rage incident where he shouted racial slurs at a Hispanic truck driver and threw a hot cup of coffee at him, splashing the victim's face, hands, and car interior. The incident occurred on Sand Canyon Avenue near the 5 Freeway and was recorded by the victim, with the footage later posted on social media. Tackett followed the victim's vehicle, driving aggressively and swerving into their lane multiple times, nearly causing collisions. The victim reported the incident to Irvine police late Wednesday night, leading to Tackett's arrest Thursday afternoon. Authorities are seeking additional victims or witnesses with more information or footage to come forward. The Irvine Police Department has provided a contact email for those with relevant information to aid the investigation.