Prineville fugitive runs; citizen tips help in capture

A 24-year-old Prineville man wanted on several arrest warrants ran from Crook County sheriff’s deputies trying to arrest him Thursday morning, prompting an extensive manhunt on the west side of the city. But citizen tips and those from other agencies helped lead to his capture.

Sheriff John Gautney said deputies tried to serve an arrest warrant on Jaustin Skyler Walker in the area of Southwest Second and Beaver streets around 9 a.m.

Walker ran from deputies, leading to “an extensive law enforcement presence in the area on the west side of Prineville,” Gautney said in a news release.

The sheriff’s office was assisted in the search by Prineville police and u.S. Forest Service law enforcement.

After numerous tips from citizens and other agencies’ information, Walker eventually was cornered in the Queens Garden Mobile Park and taken into custody, the sheriff said.

Walker was taken to the county jail and held without bail on five “failure to appear” warrants for probation violation. He also was charged with third-degree escape and second-degree criminal trespass.

Gautney said the sheriff’s office “wants to thank the citizens who provided information and assistance during this incident” and helped the agency capture the fugitive.

“You are our eyes and ears during this type of incident,” the sheriff said.