Incident:                            K9 Kirby Captures Stolen Vehicle Suspect
Location:                           I-105 Fwy / Mohawk Blvd
Case Number:                  21-02176
Date/Time:                       April 1st, 2021 @ 2:48am
More Information:         Lt Crolly 541-726-3714
Completed By:                 Sergeant Keetle

ARRESTED:                          DEWEESE, JEFFREY SCOTT / 44 year old White Male of Roseburg, OR

CHARGES:                           UUV, Possession of Stolen Vehicle, Elude by Vehicle, Elude by foot, Reckless Driving, Reckless Endangering                                            

NARRATIVE OF INCIDENT:  

On Thursday, April 1st at 2:48am, Officers of the Springfield Police Department observed a confirmed stolen U-Haul van traveling west on the I-105 freeway from Mohawk Blvd.  As Officers attempted a traffic stop with the vehicle on the freeway near Pioneer Pkwy, the vehicle accelerated and a pursuit was initiated.  The driver continued west on the freeway until exiting at Coburg Rd.  The driver then turned around and got back on the freeway headed eastbound back toward Springfield.  Additional officers were prepared and set up with spike strips.  As the stolen vehicle reached I-5, spike strips were successfully deployed and began to deflate tires on the vehicle.

The stolen vehicle took the northbound onramp to I-5 and spun out.  The vehicle was facing the wrong way and began to take off again attempting to travel southbound on I-5 in the northbound lanes.  Given the concern for any oncoming traffic, a pursuit intervention technique (PIT maneuver) was authorized and officers attempted to disable the vehicle.  The PIT maneuver was not initially successful and the damaged vehicle continued southbound in the northbound lanes.  Fortunately there was very little traffic on the freeway at the time and all vehicles were yielding.  LCSO Deputies were responding to the incident from the south and were able to assist in limiting approaching vehicle traffic.  The driver attempted to exit the freeway at the Glenwood exit but was unable to navigate the turn and a second PIT attempt was made.  The vehicle subsequently suffered additional damage.  Just south of the exit, the driver stopped the vehicle and immediately ran on foot from pursuing officers.  A Springfield Police K-9 Officer was involved in the pursuit and able to deploy SPD K-9 Kirby who quickly apprehended the suspect as he fled into the brush away from officers.  The suspect was taken into custody without further incident.

The suspect was identified as Jeffrey Deweese from Roseburg, OR.  He was lodged at the Lane County Jail on the listed charges.