UPDATE: NAME AND PHOTOS RELEASED - SUSPECT IN CUSTODY FOLLOWING ATTEMPT TO ELUDE, CRASH NEAR WARM SPRINGS
Posted: June 13th, 2011 8:41 AM
Photo/sound file: http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2011-06/1002/45315/Elliott.jpg (Leo Elliott)
Photo/sound file: http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2011-06/1002/45315/061211.elliott.elude.1.JPG
Photo/sound file: http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2011-06/1002/45315/061211.elliott.elude.2.JPG
Photo/sound file: http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2011-06/1002/45315/061211.elliott.elude.3.JPG
Photo/sound file: http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2011-06/1002/45315/061211.elliott.elude.4.JPG
Oregon State Police (OSP) is continuing the investigation related to the Sunday afternoon arrest of a 25-year old Utah man near the city of Warm Springs following a traffic crash while attempting to elude Warm Springs Police Department (WSPD) officers on Highway 26. The suspect was arrested by WSPD officers after attempting to elude on foot from the crash scene and he was lodged in the Jefferson County Jail on several charges. Additional charges are anticipated in other counties related to this incident as the suspect earlier eluded Portland-area police, was the subject of numerous reckless driving complaints, and was involved in a hit-and-run traffic crash about 20 miles east of Government Camp where Warm Springs police was investigating an unrelated traffic crash.
On June 12, 2011 at approximately 1:38 p.m. OSP Northern Command Center dispatch was notified by Portland Bureau of Emergency Communications that a red 2008 Dodge Ran pickup displaying Utah license plates was attempting to elude police on Highway 26 eastbound from the Gresham area. The pickup reportedly was a suspect vehicle involved in a hit and run traffic crash. A few minutes later OSP was advised the vehicle was last seen eastbound from milepost 27 and that police disengaged the pursuit.
During the next 30 minutes, OSP received numerous complaints of reckless, high speed driving regarding the same vehicle east of Government Camp on Highway 26. One of the complaints reported the pickup ran a vehicle off the roadway into a ditch.
According to OSP Sergeant Don Wagner, WSPD was investigating an unrelated traffic crash near milepost 74 when the Dodge pickup came into the crash scene at a high rate of speed and rear-ended another vehicle injuring one person. The pickup continued eastbound as WSPD attempted to overtake it at speeds exceeding 100 mph. West of the city of Warm Springs, a WSPD officer deployed spike strips on the pickup's tires. The pickup continued eastbound a short distance before losing control and crashing near milepost 101 at approximately 2:28 p.m.
The pickup's driver fled on foot down an embankment and was captured by WSPD officers after chasing him on foot for approximately one mile. The suspect driver, identified as LEO JAMES ELLIOTT, age 25, from Roy, Utah, was transported by Warm Springs Fire Department to Mountain View Hospital in Madras for a medical evaluation. OSP troopers took custody of ELLIOTT at the hospital and later lodged him in the Jefferson County Jail on the following charges:
* DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF INTOXICANTS - DRUGS
* FELONY ATTEMPT TO ELUDE IN A VEHICLE
* RECKLESS DRIVING
* MISDEMEANOR ATTEMPT TO ELUDE ON FOOT
Additional charges are pending in Jefferson County. OSP will contact District Attorney Offices in Wasco, Clackamas and Multnomah counties for consideration of charges related to incidents in their counties.
Photograph Sources:
Crash Scene Photographs - Oregon State Police
Elliott Photograph - Jefferson County Sheriff's Office
### www.oregon.gov/OSP ###
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