MADRAS, Ore. – A woman was arrested late Tuesday night after allegedly threatening another woman, fleeing from law enforcement, running over a pedestrian, and later engaging in an armed standoff with police. The dramatic chain of events unfolded in Madras, culminating in the suspect’s arrest by law enforcement.
According to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the incident began around 9:40 p.m. on March 11 at a residence located on SW Culver Highway near SW 1st Street. The suspect, identified as 42-year-old Andrea Chelsea Wise, allegedly threatened a 55-year-old woman by sending a text message containing threats, which prompted the authorities to respond.
When officers arrived at the scene and attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Wise, she initially complied but then fled the area. A probable cause affidavit filed by Deputy David Poole states that Wise hit a parked SUV on 1st Street before running over a pedestrian who had been standing next to the vehicle moments earlier. The pedestrian, who sustained serious injuries, was airlifted to St. Charles Medical Center in Bend. Medical staff later determined that the pedestrian had tire marks across her back and pelvis.
Following the collision, Wise continued her reckless escape, driving into an alley where she crashed into a dumpster and the vehicle of the woman she had allegedly threatened earlier. After crashing, Wise exited her truck holding a rifle and ran toward the home of the person she had initially threatened.
A tense standoff ensued as law enforcement officers from the Madras Police Department, Oregon State Police, and Bend Police Department responded to the situation. At one point, the woman who had been threatened allegedly attempted to disarm Wise, according to the affidavit. Fearing for their safety, officers deployed a Taser on Wise and took her into custody.
Sheriff Jason Pollock later revealed that when asked how fearful they were of being shot during the standoff, the three officers involved in the incident rated their fear as “eight,” “nine,” and “15” on a scale of one to ten, underscoring the danger and uncertainty of the situation.
Wise later admitted to being a felon in possession of a firearm, a violation that contributed to her decision to flee from police. Authorities also believe that Wise may have attempted to take her own life with the rifle during the standoff.
Wise was booked into the Jefferson County Jail on several charges, including three counts of unlawful use of a weapon, felon in possession of a firearm, attempting to flee police, and failing to perform the duties of a driver after injuring a person. The incident remains under investigation, and anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.
Law enforcement agencies involved in the arrest and investigation included the Madras Police Department, Oregon State Police, and Bend Police Department.
