La Grande man arrested for DUII and 3 counts of Hit and Run

By Shannon Weidemann (McKone) on Friday, March 6th, 2026 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News

LA GRANDE– Earlier this week La Grande Police Arrested 63-year-old Thomas Gowin of La Grande on charges including DUII and Hit and Run.

Below is a information from the La Grande Police Department on this case

“On March 3 at approximately 3:52 PM, LGPD received a report of a three-vehicle crash on Washington Avenue. Officers responded immediately and made contact with a witness who had observed the incident. The witness was able to provide a description of the suspect and the suspect vehicle, identified as a white Jeep.

The suspect was still on scene when officers arrived. The investigating officer contacted him immediately. The driver, identified as Thomas Gowin, 63, of La Grande, was seated behind the wheel of the vehicle and was cooperative with police. Gowin admitted to consuming alcoholic beverages and stated he had taken “psychotic medications.”

During a consent search of the vehicle, officers also located drug paraphernalia. Gowin was arrested for DUII and three counts of Hit & Run with Property Damage after striking three parked vehicles and causing thousands of dollars in damage.”