Chase ends in crash into Bend PD car; driver arrested

(Update: Suspect now in jail, adding mugshot)

A Deschutes County sheriff’s deputy tried to stop a car driven by a reportedly suicidal 19-year-old Lake Oswego man heading south on Highway 97 north of Bend Thursday afternoon, Oregon State Police said. He sped off recklessly, they said, prompting a high-speed chase into Bend that ended when he crashed into the side of a Bend police K-9 vehicle, injuring the officer but not the dog inside.

Deschutes County 911 dispatchers relayed information to law enforcement around 2:20 p.m. about the man, identified as Zenler Clairmont, driving a black Jeep Wrangler, OSP Lt. Steve Mitchell said.

A short time later, a deputy located the Jeep on Highway 97 near milepost 131, about three miles north of Bend, Mitchell said.

When the deputy tried to stop Clairmont, he fled recklessly at high speeds, crossing into oncoming traffic and avoiding several attempts by officers to stop or slow the Jeep using spike strips, the lieutenant said.

Speeds reached 80 mph at one point in the pursuit, on Highway 97 outside of Bend, sheriff’s Lt. William Bailey said.

Clairmont drove down O.B. Riley Road, Highway 20 and eventually turned onto Northeast Second Street off Butler Market Road, a dead-end stretch of road, officers reported.

Deputies, Bend police and OSP troopers tried to contain the driver there, but he tried to escape and allegedly drove through a fence, crashing into the driver’s side of the K-9 vehicle.

The officer was treated by Bend Fire medics and taken to St. Charles Bend for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, while his K-9 partner was uninjured, Mitchell said. Bend police have not released the officer’s name.

Clairmont was unhurt in the crash and was arrested by OSP on charges of DUII-drugs, second-degree assault, first-degree criminal mischief, reckless endangering, reckless driving and attempting to elude police.

Mitchell said Clairmont was taken to St. Charles Bend for evaluation before he was brought to the county jail Thursday night and held on $85,000 bail. He said other charges are possible after the investigation is completed and sent to the district attorney’s office.