According to court documents filed by the Shenandoah Police Captain Travis Bowman, Thomas Michael Dower, 51, of Shenandoah, has been charged with misdemeanor counts of Simple Assault and Careless Driving, as well as a summary count of Harassment. The charges were filed through Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker's office on June 2, 2025.
The incident occurred on May 22, 2025, around 8:05 p.m. when State Police responded to a report of a physical altercation stemming from a road rage encounter. According to the affidavit of probable cause, a man contacted police to report that he and his brother had been involved in a dangerous encounter with a blue BMW while driving westbound on State Route 54 near Shenandoah.
The man told authorities that the BMW, allegedly driven by Dower, was operating in an erratic manner, repeatedly brake-checking his vehicle. The victim stated he attempted to pass the BMW on the shoulder, but the other driver would speed up to prevent him from doing so. Fearing for his safety, the victim said he was eventually able to pass the BMW to create distance between the two vehicles.
However, the victim reported that upon stopping at the intersection of Main and Centre Streets, the BMW pulled up behind him. The driver, later identified as Dower, allegedly exited his vehicle and confronted the victim, punching him approximately five times in the face. The victim sustained a bloody nose and red marks on the side of his face but declined medical treatment at the scene.
The passenger in the vehicle, witnessed the incident and photographed the BMW’s license plate. Through investigation, police were able to identify the driver as Dower. Both positively identified Dower from a photo lineup obtained through the Pennsylvania Justice Network (JNET).
A check of Dower’s driving record revealed his license was suspended and showed numerous prior convictions.
A preliminary hearing for Dower is scheduled for July 3, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. before Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker.