Beaverton man accused of pointing gun in 'road rage' incident east of TD
By Tom Peterson
The Dalles, Ore., March 26, 2024 — A 32-year-old Beaverton man was arrested by a Klickitat County Deputy after it was reported that the man pointed his gun at another vehicle in a ‘road rage’ incident east of The Dalles on Interstate 84.
Police received the call of the driving altercation at around 4 p.m. on Monday, March 25, and Oregon State Police and a Sherman County Deputy both responded to the call of a man in a Red Nissan Rogue pointing the gun at a vehicle with three juveniles and two adults. The incident occurred near milepost 90.
“It sounds like a road rage type incident,” OSP Lt. Jason Calloway said this morning, March 26. “It was involving him and another motorist about some driving behavior that they both disagreed with and ended with him showing a firearm and pointing it at the other vehicle.”
The driver of the Red Nissan continued east for seven miles on I-84, and it exited in Biggs Junction and then headed across the bridge to Washington. Police officers were unable to catch it before it left Oregon.
However, police had reported ahead to local authorities to locate the vehicle and pull it over.
A Klickitat County Deputy stopped the vehicle and cited the driver Joshua Michael Petke, 32, of Beaverton who was found to have a loaded firearm.
Drivers in Washington must have a valid permit license to carry a loaded handgun in any vehicle in Washington.
The Klickitat County Deputy arranged to meet with an Oregon State Police Trooper on the Biggs Bridge to facilitate an interview that ended in issuing an Oregon Criminal citation.
Petke was cited in Wasco County Circuit Court on suspicion of menacing.
Lt. Calloway said the case was forwarded to Wasco County District Attorney Matthew Ellis for consideration.
When asked if spring break and additional people on the road seem to increase aggressive driving, Calloway agreed.
“I think there are a lot more people on the road, and we have noticed post-COVID that there is just generally more aggressive type driving around the state,” he said.
Support Local News
Available to everyone. Funded by readers.
