The Dollar Tree in Oregon where Alyssa Williams says she had a "meltdown" and drove her SUV at children she claims were throwing rocks at her (Google Maps).
An Oregon woman had a "meltdown" outside a Dollar Tree and allegedly "chased" a group of children with her SUV, claiming they threw rocks at her car — and she won't spend a day in jail.
Alyssa Williams, of Fairview, was sentenced to three years of probation on Friday after she pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful use of a weapon. The charges were reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor as part of her plea deal, and two counts were dropped.
Charges of menacing and disorderly conduct were filed against Williams but never pursued by prosecutors.
"It was a bit of a meltdown," Williams said Friday at her sentencing hearing, while apologizing for her actions.
Police accused Williams, who was 28 at the time, of chasing four children with her SUV in December 2025 at a Gresham Dollar Tree. A 12-year-old boy was found screaming at the discount store, saying Williams tried to hit him and his friend with her SUV while giving them the middle finger, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by The Oregonian.
When officers arrived at the scene, they allegedly found Williams sitting in the SUV holding a large canister of nitrous oxide, known as "Space Gas," near her mouth. The officers said it appeared she was using it as an inhalant, according to the affidavit.
Williams told police that four children were throwing rocks at her car and she "chased them" with her SUV while cursing at them. She claimed that she was trying to "chase them to where they need to go," according to the affidavit.
No damage was found on Williams' car from the alleged rock throwing.
"You're going to have to pull me out," Williams told officers after they asked her to exit her vehicle.
A 13-year-old boy told police that Williams allegedly called the group of kids derogatory names, including a racial slur, and threatened to beat them up, local ABC affiliate KATU reports. He said Williams appeared to be trying to run them all over, according to the affidavit.
Another child said he and a fourth kid jumped into a bush to avoid being hit.
A Dollar Tree employee told police that the children were "trembling" in fear when they ran into the store screaming for help.
Williams, who has no prior criminal history, was sentenced to 36 months of formal probation for each count of unlawful use of a weapon, with the sentences to run concurrently. Her probation includes drug and alcohol treatment.
Prosecutors said Friday that the parents of the children involved agreed to the plea deal and believed Williams was sorry for her actions.
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