JAY — A local man thought another driver passed his house at an unsafe speed, so he responded with threats, a baseball bat and road rage, police say.

State Police charged John D. Smith, 61, with menacing in the second degree, reckless endangerment in the second degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree, all misdemeanors, on Route 9N at 5:28 p.m. Sunday.

Police say Smith believed another man sped by his home on Valley Road, so Smith followed him in his vehicle to the vicinity of Ward Lumber at 697 Glen Road. Smith carried a wooden baseball bat and threatened to hurt the driver, according to police. When the driver left, Smith followed him in his own car and tried to force him off the roadway, police said.

State Police Troop B Public Information Officer Jennifer Fleishman said neither car nor driver was harmed in the incident.

The other driver called the police, and state troopers initiated a traffic stop on Smith.

They found the baseball bat in his car and issued him Town of Jay Court appearance tickets.