Cops: Mile of road rage ends in fatality

The two drivers in a fatal Long Beach road altercation were "possibly engaged in aggressive driving" for more than a mile before one driver got out of his car and was run over by the other, police said Monday.

The black Nissan Altima driven by Evan Potts, 22, and the yellow Porsche driven by Ian Sharinn, 34, were at odds for more than a mile before they reached the intersection of West Park Avenue and National Boulevard on Friday morning, Long Beach police said in a statement Monday, the first details to emerge from authorities since the Friday altercation.

Potts, of Oceanside, made an "abrupt" right turn on National Boulevard, then made an immediate U-turn, the statement said.

"Mr. Sharinn exited his vehicle, walked in front of the Nissan, threw his arms up in the air and yelled something to Mr. Potts," the statement said. Potts then accelerated and struck Sharinn, killing him, it stated. Potts then drove away, making another U-turn.

Two pedestrians, police said, pulled Potts out of the Nissan at the next intersection and turned him over to a Long Beach police lieutenant who arrived on the scene.

"This was a senseless tragedy for both families," said police Commissioner Thomas R. Sofield. "I am proud of both the Long Beach Police Department and the Long Beach citizens who were at the scene of this senseless incident."

Monday night Potts' Garden City attorney, Stanley Kopilow, said it was Sharinn who exhibited road rage. "I think that this was a situation that was caused by Ian Sharinn, who was enraged and was looking for a fight," Kopilow said. "This kid panicked . . . when confronted by a guy, huge in comparison to him, who wouldn't back off. He was spoiling for a fight."

Sharinn's relatives could not be reached Monday night, but friends have described the 6-foot-5, 230-plus pound Long Beach resident as a "gentle giant."

Potts, charged with second-degree manslaughter, was ordered held Saturday on $500,000 cash bail or $5 million bond. Kopilow said he plans to ask the judge to significantly lower the bail at a court appearance Tuesday.