A man from Warm Springs, Oregon, has been charged with being a felon in possession of firearms and fleeing police officers after two incidents involving high-speed chases.
Edward Francis Jones, 32, faces charges following his arrest. Authorities allege that on November 6, 2025, Warm Springs Police officers saw a Hyundai sedan matching the description of a stolen vehicle on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation. When officers checked the license plate, the driver sped away into a field and then fled on foot after crashing. Officers found a loaded handgun with an obliterated serial number in the car along with alcohol, fireworks, suspected methamphetamine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, ammunition, and mail belonging to Jones.
On January 7, 2026, deputies from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office stopped a Chrysler 300 for expired registration in Madras. The vehicle did not stop and led police on another high-speed chase before crashing. The male driver fled but was located by drone operators from Prineville Police Department about 100 yards away and identified as Jones. Inside the car were two handguns—one lying on the driver’s side floorboard and another belonging to a female occupant.
Jones had been wanted by U.S. Marshals since May 29, 2025 for supervised release violations related to previous felon in possession charges. Multiple law enforcement agencies participated in efforts to locate 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 made his first appearance in federal court before a magistrate judge today and was ordered detained pending further proceedings.
The FBI is investigating this case while Assistant U.S. Attorney Charlotte Kelley is prosecuting it.
A criminal complaint is only an accusation; defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
