Clackamas Deputies Apprehend Fleeing Carjack Suspect

Deputies in Clackamas County appear to have used used notable restraint in not shooting a carjacking suspect.

Photos of scene by Clackamas County Sheriff's deputies

(CLACKAMAS, Ore.) - A spokesman for the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office says patrol deputies executed "exemplary firearms restraint on two occasions while engaging a fleeing felon -- thought to be armed with a firearm."

Jim Strovink, Detective with the Clackamas Sheriff, says the situation involved multiple attempted carjackings. At one point the suspect tried allegedly tried to steal a car driven by a high school girl. Strovink says it all came to a boiling point at 7:17 PM.

Strovink says the carjacking suspect, identified as 36-year old Michael James Sands, borrowed a friends vehicle and crashed this borrowed vehicle in the vicinity of the railroad tracks, near Hwy 212 and Evelyn Street, in Clackamas.

Strovink says this vehicle was located by Sheriff's patrol personnel and was discovered to contain a small caliber round of ammunition located on the interior of this crashed automobile.

"At this point, investigators believe Michael Sands attempted to halt some westbound vehicles on Hwy 212, and attempted to carjack a vehicle being operated by young Urban High School student, identified as 17-year old Sara Cripps, of Damascus."

"Cripps continued on after the attempt; failing to yield to the carjacking efforts exhibited by Michael Sands, while he was attempting to stop her vehicle in traffic on Hwy 212."

Strovink says Michael Sands continued to advance east onto SE Hwy 212, near 132nd when he successfully flagged down a westbound Volkswagen sedan operated by a 55-year old female driver who resides in Milwaukie.

"Michael Sands is reported to have told this female driver to, 'Get the F*** out of the car!'"

This female driver who asked to not be identified, complied and was not harmed during what Strovink describes as a fierce encounter and surrendering of her automobile.

"Sands was observed departing the scene in this stolen VW; only to be intercepted a short time later by a searching Clackamas County Sheriff's Sergeant, Scott Napoli, on Amisigger Road and Highway 224, near Barton."

Strovink says Sgt. Napoli continued to follow as the suspect operated this stolen vehicle in the return direction of Clackamas – in the vicinity of the original crime scene on Hwy 212 and 132nd. With additional Clackamas County Sheriff's present, accompanied by Oregon State Police, emergency lights were activated and a pursuit of this stolen suspect vehicle was initiated near Carver.

"At one point, the suspect exited this stolen vehicle during the pursuit and assumed a ‘Weaver' type stance – in the immediate direction of Sgt. Napoli. A Weaver type stance is well recognized by law enforcement. This stance is described similar to when a person would be posturing or assuming the position, as if armed with a handgun, with arms extended -- taking aim at a specific target – in this case, directly in the immediate (menacing) direction of Clackamas County Sheriff, Sgt. Napoli. Sgt. Napoli did not fire his weapon."

Spike strips were deployed by law enforcement to stop this stolen vehicle; two of the suspect vehicle tires were punctured and this suspect continued west on Hwy 212, at a reduced rate of speed with shredded tires. Strovink says Napoli was able to execute a ‘PIT' maneuver on this moving vehicle; which resulted with this vehicle crashing into a concrete barrier, and the suspect fleeing the scene on foot near SE 132 and Hwy 212, in Clackamas.

"Continuing, suspect Sands advanced on additional vehicles and attempted to commander at least two additional automobiles that were awaiting service in the McDonalds drive-thru, located on SE Hwy 212," Strovink said.

"These additional carjacking efforts failed and the suspect was found to be in close enough range to deploy a Tazer."

But he says the effort to Tazer Sands failed, and the suspect continued to run into a vacant field with Deputies in hot pursuit.

"Sands ultimately negotiated a fence and landed on his back," Strovink said. "Sgt. Napoli approached in the darkness upon the suspect Sands, who was discovered to have his hands clasped (in low light conditions) – extended at arms length – continuing to ‘imitate being armed with a handgun'. Once again, all law enforcement personnel on the scene utilized remarkable restraint and did not discharge their duty weapons at the suspect Sands, who was successfully taken into custody – unharmed – and discovered to be not in possession of a weapon."

Sands was transported to a local hospital by Clackamas County Sheriff's, for an examination of minor injuries sustained during the initial reported car crash and released.

During an initial vehicle crash investigation (where the suspect fled the scene)—this led Deputies to an immediate carjacking and crash, resulting from Clackamas County Sheriff's ‘deploying spike-strips' in an effort to stop the stolen vehicle which had been commandeered by force. The continued chain of events, resulted in two additional attempted carjacking efforts that were conducted by the fleeing suspect as he ran through a fast-food establishment along Hwy 212 near SE 135, in Clackamas. These failed carjacking attempts allowed an opportunity for pursuing Deputies to ultimately apprehend this unarmed suspect, while fleeing on foot into an adjacent vacant lot near Hwy 212, in Clackamas.

Sands was released from the hospital and transported to the Clackamas County Jail, where he was lodged for the following charges: • Unauthorized use of a motor vehicle

• Attempted unauthorized of a motor vehicle

• Robbery 2

• Attempted robbery 2

• Reckless Driving

• Attempt to elude with a vehicle 2

• Attempt to elude on foot 1

• Hit and Run property

• Attempt Robbery 2

• Attempt Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle

• Menacing 1

Sands has an extensive criminal history, and is expected to be arraigned in the Clackamas County Circuit Court, Wednesday afternoon at 3:00 PM in Oregon City.