Suspect nabbed in chase

Sisters Police and a Deschutes County Sheriff's Deputy arrested a 16 year old male who allegedly stole a car at gun point in Bend on Monday, November 25.

Matthew David Brinduse, 16, was allegedly on a test drive with a salesman from Car Company Auto Sales when Brinduse brandished a gun, said he was taking the 1989 Honda and dropped the salesman off east of Bend, according to police reports.

Brinduse was spotted driving through Sisters at about 1 p.m. Sisters Police and a Deschutes County deputy followed the vehicle west to the Indian Ford Campground before they turned on their overhead lights.

The Honda immediately increased speed to 90 mph. Two Black Butte Ranch Police vehicles joined the chase, along with the resident deputy from Jefferson County when the pursuit hit the county line at the Camp Sherman junction.

The Deschutes Deputy was able to pass the fleeing vehicle near Jack Creek Lake Road, then deployed "spike strips" near the summit of the Santiam Pass. The fleeing suspect hit his brakes, swerved into the oncoming lanes and dodged the spikes. In the meantime, employees of the Oregon Department of Transportation had halted east-bound traffic at the junction of Highways 20 and Highway 22.

The Honda didn't make it that far. Just east of Lost Lake, Brinduse lost control of the car in a patch of gravel. The car spun, struck the south side snow bank then bounced back across the highway and came to rest on the north side snow bank.

Brinduse was taken into custody by Sisters Police and the Deschutes County Sheriff's Deputy. He was transported to St. Charles for treatmentof minor injuries then to the juvenile detention center.

The teenager faces charges for robbery and kidnapping in Bend, both crimes subject to the mandatory sentencing law. As a result of the chase, he also faces charges of attempting to elude a police officer, driving while suspended, felony reckless driving, reckless endangering, theft and criminal mischief.

The gun used in the carjacking was found by Black Butte officers during a search near the top of the Santiam Pass.

According to the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office, Brinduse was arrested last year after attempting to elude police while driving a stolen vehicle. That pursuit began in Bend and ended near Madras when the boy struck a log truck.

Deputies said that the teen had been living with friends or on the street for months.

Brinduse allegedly told aresting officers he took the car to go to Eugene. He had no response when asked why he stole a car at gun point instead of choosing a more conventional mode of transportation.