Police: Long Island Man Pepper Sprays Father, 2 Teen Children In Road Rage Incident

HICKSVILLE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- The lawyer for a man accused of pepper-spraying a father and his teenage children in a road-rage incident on Long Island said his client was only acting in self-defense.

It all started when police said Robert Labella, 58, cut off another driver at the entrance to the Broadway Mall in Hicksville on Tuesday.

Both drivers ended up in a Target parking lot where police allege Labella started cursing at the other driver, who had his 14-year-old son and 19-year-old daughter in the car with him, CBS2's Dick Brennan reported.

Labella then sprayed pepper spray into the other driver's car, hitting the man and his children, police said.

"He did spray pepper mace into the vehicle which hit the occupant, his 19-year-old daughter, and his 14-year-old son," Det. Lt. Richard Lebrun, of the Nassau County Police Department, said.

A witness intervened and had his wrist slammed into a parked car as he tried to help the victims subdue Labella, who managed to get away, police said.

"In fact, one of the witnesses tried to subdue the defendant and was pushed into a vehicle and received lacerations and pain to his arm," Lebrun said.

Police later tracked him down at his home in Sea Cliff, where he was arrested.

Labella's attorney said his client was the real victim and was only defending himself.

"My client made a traffic error, cut somebody off by mistake, they chased him into a parking lot, they got out of the vehicle and started attacking him. He reached for mace that he had in his car and defended himself with it," attorney Mark Gan told WCBS 880's Mike Xirinachs. "He didn't get physical with them, in some sense, thankfully he had something that does not cause permanent harm or permanent damage."

Gan said Labella feared for his life.

"I don't think it's unreasonable to think that somebody might try to protect themselves or defend themselves," Gan said.

Labella faces multiple charges including assault, criminal possession of a weapon and child endangerment.

No serious injuries were reported in the incident.