Austin Interstate 35 Rock Throwing Suspect Faces Felony Charges

Court documents say a man suspected of throwing rocks at cars along Interstate 35 in Austin is facing three felony charges related to the incidents, one of which left a driver with brain damage.

Authorities say 59-year-old Patrick Eugene Johnson called 911 more than 1,100 times since June 2014 to report collisions, traffic hazards and reckless driving.

The Austin American-Statesman reports that records show he made more than 80 calls within 30 minutes of a reported rock-throwing incident on I-35.

Johnson faces three felony assault charges connected to rock-throwing incidents. Police say he called 911 after throwing a rock into a vehicle in a June 2014 incident that left the driver with brain damage.

Johnson, arrested earlier this month, is being held in the Travis County jail with bail set at more than $1 million. He’s also charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child in an unrelated 2013 case.