Man arrested after road rage incident on Eugene Beltline Highway

Eugene, OR – A 60-year-old Eugene man was arrested Thursday evening following a reported road rage incident on westbound Beltline Highway, according to the Eugene Police Department.

Police said the incident was reported at approximately 6:56 p.m. on January 8 after a woman in her 70s contacted authorities. She told officers she was driving in the fast lane near North Danebo Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard at about 50 miles per hour when a Chevy Silverado approached from behind and began honking. After she moved into the slow lane, the truck reportedly slowed, pulled alongside her vehicle, and swerved into her lane.

The woman reported hearing a loud noise before the truck sped away. She and a passenger were able to provide officers with the vehicle’s license plate number.

A member of the Eugene Springfield Police Metro Drone Team later located the truck in the parking lot of the Walmart on West 11th Avenue. When the vehicle left the area, officers conducted a high-risk traffic stop due to initial concerns that a shot may have been fired during the incident. Police later determined no firearm was involved and believe the loud noise was caused by a thrown bottle.

The driver, identified as Dean Allen Lewis, was taken into custody without incident. Investigators determined Lewis had an active attempt-to-locate alert for criminal mischief in the second degree. Police also found that he did not have a valid driver’s license and was operating the vehicle without a required ignition interlock device.

Lewis was transported to the Lane County Jail, where he was lodged on charges of disorderly conduct and criminal mischief in the second degree. He was also issued traffic citations for operating a vehicle without driving privileges and operating a vehicle without an ignition interlock device.