Wanted California Man Captured After Oregon Freeway Chase

Police say the elude and subsequent search happened between Eugene and Sutherlin.

Police say the driver of this truck eluded officers in the Sutherin, Oregon. Vehicle Photograph: Oregon State Police

(EUGENE,. Ore.) - Police say a multi-agency effort led to the arrest Tuesday of a California man who tried to flee from police in two separate attempts last night between Eugene and Sutherlin. Oregon State Police credited Sutherlin Police for continuing to search and eventually locating the suspect. An OSP spokesman says the incident lasted nearly nine hours.

Oregon State Police Sergeant Lynn Withers says Monday night at approximately 11:45 PM, a Lane County deputy stopped a white 2000 Dodge Durango with California plates on southbound Interstate 5 near Beltline Road for a speed violation.

Withers said it was a short visit. "As the deputy was on the vehicle's passenger side talking to the two occupants, it sped off southbound and the deputy was unable to find the vehicle. An attempt to locate was broadcast to officers south of the Eugene area."

Early this morning just before 1:00 AM, two OSP troopers that were set up north of Sutherlin on Interstate 5 spotted a white 2000 Dodge Durango, but it was now displaying Oregon license plates.

"After it went by the troopers they got behind it and ran the license plate, discovering it was registered to a Ford Explorer. The vehicle pulled into a rest area where troopers attempted a traffic stop. The vehicle sped back onto Interstate 5 and attempted to elude off and back onto the freeway until it entered into Sutherlin and crashed on North Comstock Street, a dead end road."

Withers says the two male occupants fled on foot and were able to avoid capture.

Throughout the morning, officers continued to check the area, Withers said. "At 9:30 AM Sutherlin police spotted both suspects north of Sutherlin near milepost 138. Officers were able to detain the 16-year old passenger and turned him over to OSP troopers."

It wasn't until around 3:00 PM however, that Sutherlin police found the driver at a grocery story west of Interstate 5 and detained him for OSP troopers. 28-year old Rafael Madrigal of Strathmore, California was arrested by OSP and lodged in Douglas County Jail on a misdemeanor Sherman County Fail to Appear warrant and several other charges.

Police say Madrigal is being charged with Felony Attempt to Elude in a Vehicle, Misdemeanor Attempt to Elude on Foot, Reckless Driving, Recklessly Endangering Another Person and Hit & Run – Property Damage.

Withers says he was also cited on multiple traffic violations and Lane County charges are pending related to the initial stop and elude incident.

The juvenile passenger from Yakima, Washington was released to the custody of family members.

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