Cops: Driver harassed Gwinnett teacher, called him a racial slur

Instead of letting the slurs provoke him to attack the driver, the teacher said he used self-control.

Authorities arrested a man accused of harassing a Gwinnett County teacher and calling him a racial slur during a road-rage incident, Channel 2 Action News reported.

Eric DeKeyser, 49, faces a disorderly conduct charge in the April 6 incident, according to the news station.

Johns Creek police said DeKeyser was driving too closely behind South Gwinnett High School teacher Terrence Stover on Medlock Bridge Road, Channel 2 reported. When they were stopped at a red light, police said DeKeyser hurled racial slurs at Stover.

Eric DeKeyser, 49, faces a disorderly conduct charge. (Credit: Channel 2 Action News)

Credit: Channel 2 Action News

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Credit: Channel 2 Action News

"He rolls his window down and he starts saying a lot of racial slurs and shooting me birds, middle finger and stuff like that," Stover told Channel 2.

Stover, who teaches U.S. history and is a coach at the school, pulled into a shopping center parking lot to avoid confrontation, but police say DeKeyser followed him.

Stover pulled out his phone and began recording the interaction, Channel 2 reported. At one point during the exchange, DeKeyser was recorded saying he called Stover a racial slur to “get a ... rise out of you because you’re acting like one.”

Witnesses called the police, who viewed the cellphone footage and arrested DeKeyser, who had a pocket knife on him, Channel 2 reported.

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