PHOTO COURTESY OF OSP
Spike strips helped bring a harrowing high-speed chase along Interstate 84 to a conclusion and resulted law enforcement personnel arresting two people at gunpoint.
Oregon State Police (OSP), with the assistance of several law enforcement partners in Hood River and Wasco counties, arrested two wanted persons following Thursday’s high-speed chase along I-84. The attempt to elude concluded without further incident along the eastbound lanes in The Dalles after officers had successfully deployed spike strips on the vehicle that was confirmed stolen from Gresham.
At approximately 10 a.m., the white 2011 Subaru Legacy four-door was spotted eastbound by Hood River County Sheriff’s Office (HRSO) and OSP west of Hood River. The vehicle attempted to elude as other officers from OSP and HRSO moved into position to try and stop the vehicle as it approached Hood River. The eluding vehicle reportedly struck a guardrail near milepost 62 and an officer successfully deployed spike strips near milepost 64. Despite the right front tire being deflated, the vehicle continued eastbound at speeds near 100 mph as other troopers and officers from Wasco County Sheriff’s Office and The Dalles Police Department (TDPD) positioned themselves to assist with stopping the eluding vehicle.
At approximately 10:30 a.m., the driver stopped near milepost 87 in the left lane. Officers stopped traffic in both directions while the two occupants were removed at gunpoint and taken into custody.
The two occupants were identified as driver Patricia Marie Motley, 30, from Gresham, and passenger Aaron Joseph Smith, 28, from Rosamond, Calif. Both were wanted on outstanding felony warrants issued out of Clackamas and Multnomah counties. They were lodged at the Northern Oregon Regional Corrections Facility in The Dalles.
Motley was arrested the following six warrants:
• Failure to Appear – unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and possession of methamphetamine (Clackamas County warrant)
• Theft in the second degree (two separate Clackamas County warrants)
• Unlawful possession of a controlled substance (Multnomah County warrant)
• Failure to appear – possession of burglar tools, theft in the second degree (Multnomah County warrant)
• Failure to appear – theft in the third degree (Multnomah County warrant)
She also lodged for the following local charges to be filed in both Hood River and Wasco counties related to the incident:
• Unauthorized use of a motor vehicle
• Reckless driving
• Recklessly endangering another person
• Unlawful possession of a controlled substance – methamphetamine
• Kidnapping in the second degree
• Theft in the third degree
Smith was arrested for unlawful possession of a controlled substance – methamphetamine and the following three warrants:
• Dangerous drugs (Multnomah County)
• Parole violation (Multnomah County)
• Failure to appear – unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, ID theft, and unlawful possession of a controlled substance – methamphetamine (Clackamas County)
The displayed license plates were reported stolen on July 2 to Beaverton Police Department and had been placed on the stolen car.
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