SE Bend Pursuit Leads to Two Men’s Arrest

An attempted traffic stop in southeast Bend late Monday night turned into a foot chase and extensive search that led to two arrests, one a transient who was tracked by a police dog to his hiding spot in a nearby yard, police said.

Shortly before midnight, a Bend officer tried to stop a silver 2008 Subaru Impreza near the intersection of Ferguson Road and Ridgewater Loop, said Sgt. Todd Fletcher.

The driver would not pull over and instead took off, continuing to a dead end on Avery Lane near Orion Drive, Fletcher said, a pursuit that lasted about 3/4 of a mile, at speeds of 45 to 50 mph.

The two men inside ran from the car, and the passenger, Joshua Dewayne Watson, 30, of Bend, was taken into custody after a brief chase on foot, Fletcher said.

The driver, Jason Daryl Walter, a 35-year-old transient, eluded quick capture, prompting calling in more Bend police, Deschutes County sheriff?s deputies and Oregon State Police to form a perimeter around the area, Fletcher said. A Bend police K-9, ?Haras,? also was called to assist.

Haras eventually found Walter hiding in the yard of a nearby home, Fletcher said, and he was taken into custody without incident.

The sergeant said Walter was a suspect in March 28 case in Redmond.

Redmond Police Chief Dave Tarbet told NewsChannel 21 Walter was a suspect in a trespass and criminal mischief case at Hooker Creek Construction Co. on SW First Street.

“A padlock was cut to a tool shed,” Tarbet said, “but nothing appeared to have been taken. The trespass charge was for climbing a fence to get to the tool shed.”

Officers took Walter to St. Charles Medical Center-Bend for treatment of an ankle injury, Fletcher said, adding that there was no property damage as a result of the pursuit.

Both men were taken to the county jail. Walter?s charges include a parole violation warrant and felony and misdemeanor charges of attempt to elude, as well as felon in possession of a weapon, carrying a concealed weapon, reckless driving, reckless endangering, drug possession, second-degree criminal trespass, driving with a suspended license and driving uninsured.

Watson was charged with hindering prosecution and interfering with a peace officer.