Bend Man Arrested After Road Rage BB Gun Threat
Police say incident escalated from traffic dispute to weapons threat at gas station
BEND, Ore. — An 18-year-old Bend man was arrested Thursday night following a reported road rage incident that escalated into a weapons threat at a southeast Bend gas station, according to the Bend Police Department.
Police were dispatched at approximately 7:48 p.m. on Dec. 11 to a reported weapons offense at a Chevron station in the 1000 block of Southeast Division Street.
According to police, the reporting party told officers he was driving eastbound on Southwest Reed Market Road and slowed to turn onto Southwest Division Street when the driver behind him passed in the oncoming traffic lane, then re-entered the lane in front of him and abruptly braked. When the victim pulled into the Chevron gas station, the suspect followed him into the parking lot.
Police said the two individuals engaged in a verbal confrontation. During the encounter, the suspect allegedly produced what appeared to be a pistol, pointed it at the victim, and threatened to shoot and kill him before leaving the scene.
Witnesses provided police with the suspect vehicle’s license plate number. A Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office deputy later located the vehicle, a white Dodge 1500, parked at a residence associated with the suspect.
Bend Police officers responded to the residence and contacted the suspect, identified as Alex Rojo, an 18-year-old Bend resident. Rojo was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Deschutes County Jail.
Police recovered the weapon involved, which was later determined to be a BB gun. Rojo was arrested on suspicion of unlawful use of a weapon and menacing.
The case remains under investigation.
