Klamath Falls, OR. – Official Release: On Saturday, June 21st, 2025, officers with the Klamath Falls Police Department responded to the AMA gas station located at 522 South 6th St in Klamath Falls regarding a man entering the business and menacing the store clerk with a pistol. The suspect threatened to kill the clerk and then ordered her to leave the business. The suspect had pointed the pistol at several other patrons before barricading himself inside the store.
Patrol officers arrived on scene and established a perimeter while attempting to contact the man. Additional patrol personnel from the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office and Oregon State Police responded to the location to bring additional resources. Traffic on South 6th St and South 5th St was blocked off and diverted away from the scene for the community’s safety.
Klamath Falls SWAT was activated, responded to the location, and assumed control over the scene. After a brief stand-off, the suspect eventually exited the business and surrendered to police. He was taken into custody without further incident and transported to Sky Lakes Medical Center for non-life-threatening injuries he sustained while vandalizing the inside of the business. Damage to the business was more than $1000.00. Additionally, the pistol found in the man’s possession was reported stolen out of Medford, Oregon.
Once the location was cleared and deemed safe, the scene was turned over to patrol and detective personnel. During the investigation, it was determined the incident started at 415 Walnut Avenue where the suspect was in possession of the pistol and intoxicated. He terrorized and held two people against their will and discharged the firearm while at that residence.
The arrested was identified as 33-year-old Dustin Townsend of Klamath Falls. After he was medically cleared from Sky Lakes Medical Center, Townsend was lodged at the Klamath County Jail on the charges of Assault 1 and Unlawful Use of a Weapon X 3, Felon Possession of a Firearm, Theft I by Receiving, Criminal Mischief I, Burglary I, and Kidnapping I X 2.
We are grateful for the additional resources provided by the Oregon State Police and the
Klamath County Sheriff’s Office, and we are thankful for their assistance with bringing this
extremely dangerous situation under control with a positive outcome and no lives lost. We also thank the community for their patience while we were working through the problem.
The case is still under investigation and those with information regarding the case are asked to contact Detective Nick Ogborn, with the Klamath Falls Police Department at 541-883-5336. If you would like to remain anonymous, please call the tip line at 541-883-5334.
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