A man from Warm Springs, Oregon has been indicted on charges including possession of firearms by a felon after engaging in a high-speed pursuit with police, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Edward Francis Jones, aged 32, allegedly eluded police officers and was found in possession of multiple firearms.
"Running from justice puts lives at risk and threatens the safety of everyone around us," Scott E. Bradford, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon, said in a release. The authorities have been in pursuit of Jones since May 2025 for reports of violations related to his supervised release from an earlier conviction involving firearm possession by a felon.
During an incident on November 6, 2025, Warm Springs Police encountered a vehicle that matched the description of one reported as stolen. When officers sought to check the automobile, the driver fled at high speeds and soon crashed, allowing the driver, later identified as Jones, to escape on foot. The discovery of firearms and ammunition inside the car led to a substantial inter-agency effort to locate and apprehend him.
On January 7, 2026, Jones was finally apprehended after a vehicle he was associated with failed to stop for law enforcement in Madras, Oregon. A high-speed chase ensued, culminating in a crash, where the suspect initially avoided capture by fleeing on foot until found by drone operators from the Prineville Police Department. According to a statement obtained by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Oregon, officers discovered an additional handgun inside the crashed Chrysler 300 after Jones's arrest.
Multiple law enforcement agencies were involved in Jones's apprehension, highlighting the collaborative effort across local, state, tribal, and federal levels. "Our community is safer because of our partnerships with local, state, tribal, and federal agencies," said Stephanie Shark, Acting FBI Special Agent in Charge, echoing sentiment across agencies about the importance of collaboration in maintaining public safety through diligent enforcement.
Jones made his initial federal court appearance recently and has been ordered detained pending further proceedings. The case continues to be investigated by the FBI, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Charlotte Kelley leading the prosecution. As this is the case with all charges of this nature, a criminal complaint is merely an accusation, and Jones is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
