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Local charges dismissed Man who attacked officer faces more federal time Local charges have been dropped against a prolific career criminal who served only a few days in jail last year after he attacked a Rogue River police officer and tried to take his gun during a traffic stop on Interstate 5. Thomas David Downs II was later arrested for robbery. And now the feds want a piece of him, too. In Jackson County court Monday, prosecutors dismissed assault, escape and drug charges against Downs that stemmed from his late-night encounter Sept. 18 with rookie Rogue River officer Kalen Taylor. Deputy District Attorney Matt McCauley said the local charges against Downs were unnecessary given the amount of time he faces on federal firearms charges, which stem from the same incident and could add another 15 to 20 years to his eight-year robbery sentence in state prison. Authorities said Downs, 31, struck Taylor in the head with handcuffs after the officer found a sawed-off shotgun in Downs' truck and tried to arrest him. Downs then tried to take the bleeding officer's metal baton and gun, leading to a desperate fight alongside the freeway just north of Rogue River. Taylor got control of the gun first and Downs ran off into the woods. He was quickly found and arrested, spending two days in the hospital for what police described as an apparent drug overdose. Taylor needed several stitches to close a gash near his left eye. He was later awarded a medal by the American Police Hall of Fame. According to court records, Downs was released from jail three days after the incident. He was arrested again in December for robbing Della's Restaurant in Grants Pass, and was sentenced last month to 92 months in prison. Downs was later indicted by a federal grand jury on two firearms charges. He is currently incarcerated in a state prison and has not been arraigned yet in U.S. District Court. Downs has an 11-year rap sheet in Jackson and Josephine counties that includes over a dozen different burglary convictions, as well as convictions for theft, criminal mischief and possession of a controlled substance. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA