La Pine pickup theft suspect surrenders, day after leading DCSO on chase, prompting manhunt, shelter-in-place alerts

(Update: Initial charges filed, suspect's name)

La PINE, Ore. (KTVZ) – A La Pine man suspected in a pickup truck theft and police chase in La Pine early Monday that led to a manhunt and a day of warnings for area residents to shelter in place surrendered to Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies and was arrested on several charges Tuesday evening.

Joshua Allen Maxfield, 33, contacted deputies shortly after 6 p.m. in the 51300 block of Highway 97, surrendered and was taken into custody without further incident, Lt. Joe DeLuca said in a brief update.

Maxfield as booked into the county jail in Bend and held without bail pending arraignment.

Initial charges filed by prosecutors against Maxfield before Wednesday's arraignment include two Class C felonies -- unauthorized use of a vehicle and fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer -- and three Class A misdemeanors: recklessly endangering another person, reckless driving and a second count of fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer.

Court records show Maxfield was cited in June on a misdemeanor charge of hit and run (failure to perform the duties of a driver) with property damage and was conditionally released in late July. He failed to appear for a Sept. 8 plea hearing and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Maxfield apparently was located by authorities and again was conditionally released last week, signing a document agreeing to appear for a Nov. 28 plea hearing and to have no contact with an alleged victim, court records show.

Deputies responded around 3 a.m. Monday to a report of a black 1989 Chevy S-10 stolen in the 52000 block of Huntington Road in La Pine, Sergeant Joshua Barker said.

Deputies developed a possible suspect and later located the pickup at a home in the 15400 block of Deer Avenue, also in La Pine, he said.

As deputies were trying to take the man into custody, he left in the pickup, crashing into several trees and other objects as he fled, the sergeant said. Deputies later found the stolen pickup abandoned near Brooks Lane, after the suspect had fled on foot.

“There continues to be increased law enforcement presence in the area of Deer Avenue" while the search for the suspect continues, Barker said Monday afternoon.

The suspect was described as a white male in his early 30s, with black hair and facial hair. He last was seen wearing jeans, a T-shirt of unknown color, a grayish-black vest and boots with no laces.

Dispatchers said an initial alert was sent for residents to shelter in place that later was lifted, indicating it was no longer believed the suspect posed a current threat in the area. Residents said they were sent a new alert hours later, again advising them to shelter in place.

Barker said deputies would continue to provide updates to residences within the search area via the Deschutes Alerts emergency notification system. To sign up for Deschutes Alerts, go to https://www.deschutes.org/911/page/sign-deschutes-alerts.

"The public is encouraged to report any information or suspicious activity observed within or near the search area," the sergeant said.