Charges Filed Following February Incident

A Willow Springs man faces three felony charges for a February incident in which he allegedly threatened a father and son with a knife. Jason McDowell, 23, of Willow Springs, was charged with second degree assault, armed criminal action, and unlawful use of a weapon by the Howell County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office on April 7. 

According to a probable cause statement filed by Officer Ben Bishop of the Willow Springs Police Department, a father and son reported an altercation with an unknown male subject, later identified to be McDowell on February 19. According to the victims, they were outside their residence on Short St. with their dog when the subject approached in a threatening manner, yelling obscenities at them. The suspect produced a large knife and began swinging it at the men and the dog. The son collared the dog, but McDowell allegedly continued to act in an aggressive manner, swinging the knife within inches of the younger man’s face. 

Interviews with nearby residents suggested a man matching McDowell’s description had walked by that afternoon. The following morning, Officer Bishop located McDowell and took him to the police station for questioning. Both Officer Bishop and Officer Jim Hedlesten conducted the interview in which the suspect admitted to brandishing a knife to defend himself from the dog, but denied acting in a threatening manner towards the victims. 

Officer Bishop’s probable cause statement is dated February 24, and charges were filed this week. A warrant for McDowell’s arrest was issued on April 9, but at press time the accused remains at large.