Incident: K9 Teams’ Efforts Lead to Apprehension of Felons in Possession of Multiple Firearms and Large Quantity of Suspected Fentanyl
Location: Springfield, Oregon
Case Number: 23-6662
Date/Time: 09/27/2023 @ 0148 Hrs
More Information: Public Information Coordinator | spdpi@springfield-or.gov
Completed By: Zak Gosa-Lewis, Public Information Coordinator

INVOLVED SUSPECTS:
Luke, Zachary Foster 33 Year-Old Male | Jefferson, OR
Miller, Donald Blake 26 Year-Old Male | Junction City, OR

NARRATIVE OF INCIDENT:
On September 27, 2023 at 0144 hours, Springfield Police Department Officers initiated a stop of a vehicle near the intersection of 14th & I Street in Springfield. As officers approached the vehicle, the driver sped away from the stop location and a vehicle pursuit began. Officers contacted multiple partner agencies in the area as the vehicle reached high speeds and began traveling northbound on I-5. A spike strip was successfully deployed by an Oregon State Police Trooper near the Beltline overpass, causing the vehicle to slow its speed.

The vehicle then attempted to drive the wrong way on the I-5 northbound onramp near Coburg, nearly striking an on-coming semi-truck. A pursuing SPD officer successfully deployed a PIT maneuver, immobilizing the vehicle. The driver and passenger of the vehicle exited and began running from the scene, with the passenger running across multiple lanes of I-5 traffic. Two of the pursuing SPD officers deployed their K9s to assist in the apprehension of the suspects. K9 Kirby and his handler were able to quickly locate the passenger, Donald Miller, and take him into custody without incident.

K9 Gryff and his handler began pursuing the driver of the vehicle, who fled through multiple lanes of traffic, on-foot. K9 Gryff was able to apprehend the suspect shortly after and the driver, Zachary Luke, was taken into custody. Multiple personnel from the Lane County Sheriff’s Office and the Oregon State Police assisted in the pursuit and apprehension of the suspects.

An initial search of the vehicle revealed multiple, readily accessible firearms and over five ounces of suspected fentanyl, which is the equivalent of over 70,000 lethal doses. Both Luke and Miller were wanted in relation to parole violations and were lodged at the Lane County Jail. This investigation is still ongoing and additional charges are pending.

CHARGES:
LUKE: FELON IN POSSESSION OF FIREARM | WARRANT ARREST (ROBBERY I) | ELUDE – VEHICLE | ELUDE – FOOT | RECKLESS DRIVING

MILLER: FELON IN POSSESSION OF FIREARM | WARRANT ARREST (BURGLARY)