Police Arrest Man After Strange Encounter with School Transport Vehicle

Oregon State Police and Grant County Sheriff's Office deputies arrested a man on multiple charges Wednesday including DUII, Recklessly Endangering, and Menacing after an incident involving a school transport vehicle with two children on board.

55-year old Roy Eugene Mercer of Long Creek, Oregon Photo courtesy: Grant County Sheriff's Office

(LONG CREEK, Ore.) - Police say a Long Creek man chased and menaced a female school bus driver Wednesday afternoon who had two children aboard. Police caught up with the man and arrested him on several charges.

Trooper Marv Ritter with Oregon State Police, says it began when the bus was southbound on Highway 395 near milepost 92, around 4:20 PM Wednesday. The bus carrying the 12-year old girl and 13-year old boy, was moving down the highway when a 1985 Chevrolet Sprint passed the bus northbound.

Ritter says the car, driven by 55-year old Roy Eugene Mercer of Long Creek, reportedly skidded to a stop, turned around and chased the bus uphill where it then passed the bus.

"The car came to an abrupt stop sideways in the southbound lane forcing the woman bus driver to stop."

Mercer allegedly jump out of his car and aggressively postured and yelled at the bus driver that he was placing her under arrest because one of the lights on the bus was burned out.

Afraid for herself and the children, the bus driver backed down the icy highway to get away, Ritter said.

"She was able to turn the bus around and drive back to Long Creek with Mercer following the bus. Upon entering the town she called 9-1-1 for help and eventually lost sight of Mercer."

An Oregon State Police trooper and Grant County Sheriff's Office deputy responded to the area and located the suspect's car at his residence. Ritter says Mercer became uncooperative and was taken into custody following a briefing struggle. He was arrested and taken to the Grant County Jail, charged with 3 counts of Coercion, 3 counts of Menacing, 3 counts of Recklessly Endangering Another Person, DUII, Reckless Driving and Disorderly Conduct.

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Contact Info: Sergeant Gordon Larson