OSP Trooper Arrests California Fugitive

An Oregon State Police (OSP) trooper’s suspicions Thursday afternoon while on patrol in northeast Oregon led to the arrest of a wanted California fugitive operating a car stolen out of Walla Walla, Wash.

On Jan. 9, at approximately 3:06 p.m., an OSP trooper completing a traffic stop eastbound on Interstate 84 near La Grande was pulling back onto the freeway when he noticed a white Toyota Camry approaching from the rear. The trooper saw the car quickly slow down. The suspicious driving behavior continued to draw the trooper’s attention so the trooper slowed down.

As the Toyota Camry passed by, the trooper ran a check on the license plate number. It turned out the car was reported stolen out of Walla Walla. The trooper stopped the vehicle in La Grande at exit 261 and took the male driver into custody without incident. Additional troopers quickly arrived and detained a 33-year old female. The third occupant was a 1-year old child asleep in the backseat.

The driver was identified as Jon Wesley Jensen Jr., 40, from Covina, Calif., who was wanted out of California on a felony parole violation warrant. The warrant was issued by California Department of Corrections for an original arrest for larceny/carjacking.

According to Walla Walla police, the car’s owner reported it stolen after she started the vehicle to let it warm up and went back inside. Upon returning, the car was missing.

Jensen was lodged by OSP in the Union County Jail as a fugitive from justice and a charge of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

The female and child were transported from the scene by a Department of Human Services employee.