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William Dean Thomas, 68, called police at 1:41 a.m. May 5, 2016 to report he fired his gun at a Ford Taurus after its occupants threw eggs at his home in the 6000 block of Southeast Mitchell Street

(The Oregonian/OregonLive/file)

A Southeast Portland man was jailed Thursday after police say he used a handgun to deal with a pair of egg-throwing incidents.

William Thomas

William Dean Thomas, 68, called police at 1:41 a.m. to report that he shot at a Ford Taurus after its occupants threw eggs at his home in the 6000 block of Southeast Mitchell Street, Sgt. Pete Simpson, a police spokesman, said in a news release.

Thomas had called police to report an earlier egging, Simpson said. While he was cleaning the mess, his house was egged a second time, police said.

"Officers spoke with witnesses who told police that a red car was seen speeding away after the gunfire, and people inside the car were heard laughing," Simpson said.

Officers found evidence of gunfire, including a bullet hole near a child's bedroom at a neighboring home, Simpson said.

Thomas was arrested without incident and taken to a Multnomah County jail on accusations of unlawful use of a weapon, reckless endangerment and discharging a firearm in the city, Simpson said.

His handgun was seized as evidence and other guns were taken for safekeeping, police said.

Officers have asked the public's help in locating the occupants of the Ford Taurus.

Throwing eggs at another person's home is considered a third-degree misdemeanor crime, but those charges could be more serious if the property sustains damage, Simpson said. Anyone with information should call the police non-emergency line at 503-823-3333 and reference case 16-141405.

-- Tony Hernandez

thernandez@oregonian.com

503-294-5928

@tonyhreports