Handcuffed Suspect Escapes from OSP Patrol Car

As part of the investigation the trooper returned to the crashed pickup and found three firearms inside, one of which was a shotgun that was reported stolen.

Salem-News.com

(GRANTS PASS, Ore.) - A handcuffed Grants Pass-area man was found Wednesday night after he broke out an Oregon State Police patrol car window.

29-year old David Porter escaped for a brief period of time along Interstate 5 in the Grants Pass area.

At approximately 9:00 PM on Wednesday, an OSP trooper responded to a reported crash on Interstate 5 northbound near milepost 54.

On arrival, the trooper found a 1979 Chevrolet pickup that had crashed off Foothill Drive and onto the shoulder of Interstate 5.

The driver, 29-year-old David Porter, from Grants Pass, was subsequently arrested for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants (DUII), handcuffed and placed in the rear of the trooper's patrol car.

As part of the investigation the trooper returned to the crashed pickup and found three firearms inside, one of which was a shotgun that was reported stolen.

While searching the pickup, the trooper was unaware that Porter had kicked out the left rear passenger window and escaped into the darkness.

The trooper returned to the patrol car to place the firearms in the trunk at which time he discovered Porter had escaped.

Another OSP trooper and a Josephine County Sheriff's Office deputy with a canine were dispatched to the area to help search for Porter.

After approximately 15 minutes, a remorseful Porter came back to the scene from where he was hiding across the freeway in bushes along the southbound shoulder.

Porter was lodged in the Josephine County Jail on the following charges:

DUII

Reckless Driving

Criminal Mischief in the First Degree

Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree

Escape in the Third Degree

Theft in the First Degree (stolen firearm)

He was also cited for Driving While Suspended and Driving Uninsured.