Klamath Falls, Ore. – Startling new information in a case involving a former Klamath County Deputy District Attorney…
Cole Chase is accused of threatening 2 men at gunpoint…but a witness believes Chase was acting in self-defense.
Cole Chase was suspended in late October…indicted on criminal charges in December…and resigned from office a week later.
Chase is accused of pointing a gun at 2 men outside of the ‘Basin Martini Bar’ October 24th.
Tawnia Shaw witnessed the incident…
“Cole Chase was paying and trying to leave, and as he turned to leave, this guy came up, much bigger and very aggressive stance, and tried to start a fight there in the bar.”
Tawnia Shaw says she doesn’t know Chase.
Shaw was one of several people that testified before a grand jury…
“Cole, multiple times said ‘I’m not going to fight you, I don’t know who you are, what is your name’ – things like that, and Cole, I was actually pretty impressed – he kept a very cool, calm demeanor about himself even though he was obviously being attacked.”
Shaw says while the argument didn’t get physical, Chase tried to leave…
“He just walked out. Said, ‘I’m not going to fight you, I am going outside because I am leaving – and he walked out.”
Shaw says the men followed Cole Chase outside, prompting Chase to draw his gun…
“He called 911, said ‘I have been attacked, I have them at gunpoint, I need help.”
The case is being prosecuted through the Oregon Attorney General’s Office.
Cole Chase faces 6 criminal charges, including 2 felony counts of unlawful use of a weapon.
Klamath County District Attorney Rob Patridge says he can’t comment on the case due to a conflict of interest.
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