Redmond PD: Drug dealer caught after chase, manhunt

A Redmond man allegedly distributing drugs around the city refused to pull over for police Thursday evening, sparking a chase that hit over 80 mph before he hit police spike strips, officers said. After two tires deflated, he stopped, got out and ran, prompting a manhunt that found him hiding in a yard.

Shortly before 5:30 p.m., a Redmond officer spotted a VW Passat whose driver, later identified as Randy Lee Cooper, 26, was believed to be driving with a suspended license and no insurance, and distributing drugs in and around Redmond, Lt. Curtis Chambers said.

The officer tried to pull Cooper over at Northwest Maple Avenue and Fourth Street, but he sped away, heading west on Maple at speeds estimated to be over 80 mph as he crossed the Maple Avenue Bridge and approached the 19th Street intersection.

The VW kept heading west on Maple Avenue, then north on Northwest Way, into a construction zone. The stretch of road is closed to through traffic due to water and sewer line construction.

As the pursuit continued, an Oregon State Police trooper was able to successfully deploy spike strips on NW Pershall Way near Coyner Avenue, Chambers said. They are intended to slowly deflate a vehicle’s tires to help safely end a pursuit.

Two of the VW’s tires tires deflated as Cooper continued on, re-entering Redmond from the north on 10th Street from Pershall Way.

Chambers said the chase continued into Redmond through residential areas, until Cooper got out and ran in the area of Southwest Juniper Avenue and 13th Street. A passenger stayed in the car, complied with police commands and was not charged or detained, Chambers said.

Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies and OSP joined in the search for Cooper, aided by K-9 teams. After “many minutes of searching,” Chambers said, Cooper was found hiding in a yard. He was found to be in possession of a “large quantity” (over 5 grams) of heroin and other drugs.

Cooper was taken into custody on an arrest warrant and booked into the county jail in Bend on numerous charges, including felony and misdemeanor fleeing or attempt to elude police, heroin and methamphetamine possession, heroin delivery, reckless driving, interfering with a police officer, recklessly endangering another person and driving with a suspended license.

Cooper remained held without bail Friday on a parole violation and an initial 10-count charging document.

There were no injuries or property damage in the incident, Chambers added.

The arrest came a year and a day after Cooper, wanted for felony parole violation, ran from sheriff’s detectives in Redmond, got in an SUV and crashed, then crawled out of the overturned vehicle but was soon caught and arrested.

Cooper pleaded guilty to recklessly endangering and felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to a year and a day in prison, followed by two years supervision, as well as a 90-day license suspension.

Court records show Cooper was arrested nearly a year earlier on heroin and methamphetamine possession charges and for meth possession in 2016 as well. He was arrested twice in 2015 on DUII and reckless driving charges.