Chase ends in Sisters man's garage

Police apprehended a fugitive after a wild car chase. Photo by Jim Cornelius

A 32-year-old Salem man led police on a wild chase near Sisters last week before he was finally nabbed while trying to steal a Sisters man's truck.

Jack Addison was setting the valves on his 13-year-old Dodge pickup truck and had just gone into his house for a moment when the fugitive -- on foot after his car was disabled -- burst into Addison's garage and fired up the truck.

The driver, Todd Michael Clark, backed swiftly out of the garage, swinging the truck 90 degrees to the side before being confronted by Oregon State Police Sergeant Eric Brown and Deschutes County Deputy Kevin Turpin. Both officers had their guns drawn and ordered the fugitive out of the vehicle and onto the ground.

Clark was not cooperative and the situation was volatile.

"I think (the police) showed great professional restraint," Addison told The Nugget. "They told the guy to put his hands behind his back and he reached into his jacket pocket -- and they didn't shoot him. Eventually, thanks to their persistence, he did what they told him to do. They saved this guy's life."

According to Oregon State Police reports, the incident began on Monday, afternoon April 28, when Deschutes County 911 reported a red vehicle heading westbound on Highway 20 making bad passes and driving at high speed.

Clark attempted to elude Sgt. Brown, who was trying to overtake him.

Clark attempted to turn off the highway at Lance Road but slid off the highway. Clark backed up, turned in a private driveway and hit the highway again, this time heading eastbound at speeds up to 100 miles per hour.

At Couch Market Road, the vehicle slowed and spun around and came to a stop. Clark and his passengers refused to get out of the vehicle, instead heading westbound again on Highway 20.

Sheriff's deputies and Black Butte Ranch Police deployed in an attempt to lay out spike strips to stop the vehicle.

OSP carried out a "slack pursuit," dropping back and slowing down in hopes that Clark would also slow down.

Clark turned north on Cloverdale Road, turned into a residence, then headed back out on Cloverdale heading south.

His car hit a spike strip, which flattened both passenger side tires. According to OSP reports, Clark turned back onto Highway 20 heading west, but spun out onto the shoulder.

Clark fled on foot with Sergeant Brown and Deputy Kevin Turpin in pursuit. Other deputies detained the passengers.

Clark allegedly jumped several fences, ran into Addison's open garage and jumped into his Dodge pickup truck before Sgt. Brown and Deputy Turpin got him cornered.

Once Clark finally surrendered he was taken into custody and lodged in Deschutes County Jail on charges of attempting to elude a police officer, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, felon in possession of a firearm, reckless driving, six counts of reckless endangering, probation violation and driving while suspended.

Addison noted that there was "tremendous coordination between law enforcement agencies...

"And of course I was grateful that my truck did not get smashed."