By The Associated Press LAFAYETTE, Ind. (Thur. Dec. 3, 1998) -- 

A trucker's speed and the Confederate flag bug shield he'd mounted on his rig's radiator grill sparked a reckless 13-mile confrontation with another semi along Interstate 65. No one was injured, but a truck driver offended by the flag wound up in the Tippecanoe County Jail on Wednesday, charged with misdemeanor intimidation and criminal recklessness with a vehicle. Jimmy Brogdon of Chattanooga, Tenn., said he was in a line of three semis traveling southbound in the left lane near Indiana 26. A fourth semi driven by Jeffrey G. Robinson, 31, of Chicago, approached at high speed from behind. "He was mad because we were only going 65 in the hammer lane," Brogdon said. When Robinson finally passed Brogdon and spotted the Confederate flag bug shield, he became enraged, Brogdon said. Robinson, who is black, apparently considered the flag a racist symbol. At one point, Brogdon said, Robinson forced him off the road and shoulder in an effort to get Brogdon to stop. Later, Robinson got in front of Brogdon and slowed traffic down to about 35 mph to try to get Brogdon to stop. The maneuvering ended just north of the Indiana 28 exit ramp when trooper Rich Kelly, who had been pursuing the truckers and monitoring their CB conversation for nearly 20 miles, got on the CB and ordered Robinson to stop. Robinson, after being arrested, posted bond and was released from jail.