Springfield Police Officers responded to the Gateway Mall located at 3030 Gateway Street near the Spirit Halloween shopping center because a caller said there was a man inside her coworker’s pickup trying to steal it. The suspect was later identified as Sebastian Bakari Bivens (01/15/1990).
While traveling to the location dispatch was giving updates to officers provided by the caller. The owner of the pickup was able to get inside his pickup and follow Bivens, who was trying to escape on foot.
Officers pulled into the Sizzler parking lot and saw Bivens running away from the pickup. Officers got out of their car and saw Bivens run back towards the victim and his pickup. It looked as if Bivens was trying to get into the pickup.
One of the officers told Bivens to stop, he did not stop. Bivens started to run away while another officer told him to stop and that he was under arrest.
While Bivens was running away, officers saw him throw a pistol. As Bivens continued to run across the lot, an officer used his extensive training and was able to successfully use a taser to prevent Bivens from escaping and resolving the incident, avoiding a more dangerous situation.
Bivens was arrested and taken into custody. While searching Bivens, officers found methamphetamine, knives, and keys. They also recovered the pistol that Bivens threw during the foot pursuit. The pistol was confirmed as stolen.
The victim told officers that his pickup had been stolen once before and that his keys were taken out of the pickup. Officers asked the victim to describe the keys and keychain. They found a keychain and keys in Bivens’ possession that matched exactly to the victims’ description.
Sebastian Bakari Bivens (01/15/1990) was taken to the Lane County Jail on charges of one count of Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle, one count Theft 1, One count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm, One count of Possession of Methamphetamine, and a warrant out of Eugene.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT: Kris Seibel at (541) 726-2333, kseibel@springfield-or.gov
NEWS RELEASE COMPLETED BY: Kris Seibel, Public Information Coordinator
