Interstate Motorist Arrested After Firing Handgun at Law Enforcement

Press Release from Cook County Sheriff’s Office

 Sheriff Doug Hanks reports the arrest of RAFAEL RODRIGUEZ MOREY, 29, of Citrus Springs, Florida after he fired a handgun at law enforcement officers after a dispute over a tow bill he incurred from interstate 75. 

On April 18th, 2024, at approximately 3:24am, Deputies with the Cook County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the area of the 50 mile marker on Interstate 75 following reports from passing motorists of a male subject in the roadway. Deputies arrived to find MOREY seated behind the wheel of his Chevrolet Equinox bearing registration from the State of Maryland. MOREY was uncooperative with law enforcement and refused to exit his vehicle but they were able to ascertain that it was currently inoperable and a tow truck was requested to respond to the location. Upon arrival it was determined that the vehicle had ran out of gas and the battery was drained. The tow company agreed to tow MOREY to the Circle K in Adel, Georgia and acquire gas and jump start the vehicle. MOREY again refused to exit the vehicle for the tow company and both he and the car were towed to the Circle K. 

Upon arrival at the Circle K the tow company added gas to the vehicle and MOREY cooperated in getting the vehicle jump started. The tow company then informed MOREY of the charges for the service and he was given several options to settle but he refused to pay or comply with any of the options. MOREY then attempted to back off the tow truck but the vehicle was still tied down. Deputies, along with officers from the Adel Police Department who arrived to help, attempted to assist MOREY in resolving the issue. MOREY became increasingly uncooperative and now combative. MOREY locked the doors of the vehicle and rolled up all the windows while still attached to the tow truck. Law enforcement used a window punch to attempt to gain access to the vehicle and upon successfully gaining entry MOREY produced a handgun and fired a round at the law enforcement officers. A deputy was struck in the lower leg area by the round but it passed through his pants leg without hitting his leg. Law enforcement on the scene then backed away from the vehicle and began making sure travelers and patrons at the store were cleared from the immediate scene while taking up positions to continue negotiating with MOREY. MOREY raised his hands no longer brandishing the firearm and law enforcement approached the vehicle and were able to remove MOREY with the use of electronic control devices. He was taken into custody after a brief struggle and transported to the Cook County Jail where he was booked and charged initially with multiple counts of Aggravated Assault on Law Enforcement officers. He remains incarcerated at the time of this release. 

Investigators responded to the scene to conduct an investigation of the incident. Initial evidence from the scene as well as from review of law enforcement body cameras has determined that MOREY was suffering from a paranoia induced or elevated by the use of illegal substances. 

There were several patrons of the store in the immediate area when MOREY fired on law enforcement. An off-duty police officer from Florida, who was traveling with his family, assisted local law enforcement in taking MOREY into custody. 

“Words cannot describe how thankful I am that no one was injured in this incident this morning”, stated Sheriff Hanks. “All the law enforcement on scene used their training, knowledge, and abilities perfectly to diffuse the situation and preserve the life of everyone, including the offender. I could not be prouder of the work they did this morning”, added Hanks. 

Sheriff Hanks especially wished to thank the City of Adel Police Department and the off-duty officer for their assistance and the tow company, Circle K, and the witnesses involved for their cooperation. 

The investigation into this incident continues and more charges are forthcoming for MOREY. 

The Adel News Tribune will have more information on this case as it is released to the public.