A Warm Springs, Oregon man, Edward Francis Jones, 32, has been charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and fleeing or attempting to elude police officers following a high-speed chase.
According to court documents, on November 6, 2025, Warm Springs Police officers saw a Hyundai sedan matching the description of a stolen vehicle while patrolling the Warm Springs Indian Reservation. When an officer checked the license plate, the driver sped into a field. After hitting an object and stopping suddenly, Jones exited the car and ran from officers. Inside the vehicle, police found a loaded 9mm handgun with its serial number removed on the driver's seat. Officers also discovered alcohol, fireworks, drug paraphernalia including what is believed to be methamphetamine and marijuana, about 94 rounds of ammunition, and two backpacks—one containing mail addressed to Jones.
On January 7, 2026, deputies from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office attempted to stop a Chrysler 300 for expired registration after spotting a woman associated with Jones inside. The car did not stop and continued at high speeds through Madras, Oregon before crashing. A male fled from the driver’s seat but was located by drone operators from Prineville Police Department about 100 yards away and identified as Jones. He was taken into custody at that time. Officers found two handguns on the driver’s side floorboard—one belonging to Jones and another blue pistol linked to the female occupant.
Jones had been wanted by U.S. Marshals since May 29, 2025 for violating supervised release in two separate cases involving underlying felon-in-possession charges. Multiple attempts had been made by law enforcement agencies—including federal authorities such as the FBI and U.S. Marshals Service as well as several local police departments—to arrest him.
“Running from justice puts lives at risk and threatens the safety of everyone around us,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon Scott E. Bradford. “I am grateful to our federal and local law enforcement partners for their commitment to protecting the community by locating and removing this dangerous fugitive from our streets.”
“The U.S. Marshals Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force is thankful to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Madras Police Department, Prineville Police Department, Crook County Sheriff’s Office, and the Oregon State Police for arresting Jones,” said Acting U.S. Marshal for the District of Oregon Pete W. Cajigal. “The unwavering dedication, relentless hard work, and steadfast diligence of these agencies stand as a powerful testament to the exceptional caliber of law enforcement that safeguards and serves our communities.”
“Our community is safer because of our partnerships with local, state, tribal, and federal agencies," said Acting FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephanie Shark. "Those partnerships allowed us to take both weapons, and a felon in possession of those weapons, off our streets.”
Jones appeared in federal court before a magistrate judge on January 14 where he was ordered detained pending further proceedings.
The case is being investigated by the FBI with Assistant U.S. Attorney Charlotte Kelley prosecuting.
A criminal complaint is only an accusation; defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
