Redmond man charged in Head Start bus road rage case

A Redmond man was arrested Monday, accused of a road rage incident in which he allegedly blocked a Head Start school bus with several 5-year-olds inside on a snow-narrowed road, banged on the door shouting to get in and made a “finger gun” motion at the driver.

The bus driver for the NeighborImpact Head Start program called Deschutes County 911 around 12:40 p.m. to report a driver had intentionally blocked in his school bust with a vehicle near Northwest Elm Avenue and 27 th Street, Lt. Curtis Chambers said.

The driver said the man was knocking on the bus door and trying to get inside, Chambers said. The driver locked the door to the bus, which was carrying several 5-year-old students at the time.

As the man later identified as William Gass Jr., 32, walked away from the bus, he reportedly made a “finger gun” with his hand and motioned as if he was shooting the driver, Chambers said.

Sgt. Ryan Fraker said witnesses and the victims reported Gass was “very upset, screaming and yelling,” and later made threats when he went to the front of the bus, acted as if he was going to pull out a weapon, then made the finger gun motion.

Officers responding to the area were able to locate the suspect’s vehicle nearby, in the 200 block of Northwest Antler Loop.

Based on information developed by the officers, Gass was arrested on charges of second-degree disorderly conduct and menacing. He was booked into the Deschutes County Jail in Bend, where officers said he was released a short time later on his own recognizance.

“The investigation into this incident determined it was a result of a traffic-related dispute,” Chambers said. “It is believed the hazardous road conditions still being experienced by drivers in Central Oregon precipitated this dispute.”

“The Redmond Police Department encourages drivers not to become overly angry at other drivers and allow for extra time to get to your destination,” the lieutenant added. “Courtesy and understanding do go a long way when we are all at the mercy of snow- and ice-covered roadways.