PARKDALE, OR -- The elected Mayor of a small town east of Biggs Junction faces a number of charges, including Attempted Murder, following an apparent road rage incident. According to the Hood River County Sheriff's Office, a family of four was southbound on Highway 281 at about 8:45 p.m. on Halloween. They were behind an SUV they described as driving erratically. The SUV pulled over abruptly, causing the driver of the family vehicle some concern, according to investigators. The family slowed to get a description of the suspect vehicle to report the erratic driving. As they passed the suspect vehicle, a man stepped out of the passenger side and fired multiple rounds from a handgun at the passing family, damaging their car. Two adults and two children, ages five and eight, were inside the victim vehicle at the time.  No one was injured.

On November 1, investigators identified and located the suspect vehicle, as well as the suspected shooter, Dowen Jones. Deputies from the Sherman County Sheriff’s Office contacted Jones in the City of Rufus, where he is the elected Mayor. He was arrested and lodged at Northern Oregon Regional Corrections (NORCOR) in The Dalles on one count of Attempted Murder and four counts of Attempted Assault in the First Degree. The investigation is ongoing.