Two Arrested After Unusual NE Bend Chase

A Bend woman with a suspended driver?s license refused to pull over for police early Saturday evening and led them on a chase through northeast Bend, occasionally waving at officers and residents, police said. She eventually stopped, but her passenger then ran, jumped several fences and was found by a police dog, hiding in a backyard, officers said.

Around 5:30 p.m., an officer spotted a white 1995 Chevy Blazer driven by Christina Ann Brown, 21, southbound on 12th Street at Revere Avenue, said Officer Rob Emerson.

Brown was known to the officer from prior contacts, and the officer knew she had a suspended driver?s license, Emerson said, adding that he also noticed a passenger, later identified as Benjamin Robert Watson, 22, also of Bend, was not wearing a seat belt.

The officer turned on his overhead lights to stop the car near 12th and Quimby Avenue, Emerson said, but the driver refused to yield to the lights and sirens, continuing the pursuit, though staying within the speed limit and stopping at stop signs.

In fact, Brown occasionally waved at officers and citizens as she continued to drive through northeast Bend for about six minutes, Emerson said.

Eventually, Brown pulled into a cul-de-sac in the 1700 block of NE Woodridge Lane, the officer said. After realizing it was a dead end, she pulled into a private driveway and stopped, Emerson said.

Watson, meanwhile, ran from the car and jumped over several fences while Brown was taken into custody.

Officers soon learned Watson?s name, and that he had run because he had absconded from his probation officer and was under the influence of methamphetamine, Emerson said.

With help from the sheriff?s office and Oregon State Police, a perimeter was set up and Bend police K-9 Zlatan was deployed.

Watson was found hiding in the backyard of a home in the 2700 block of NE Flowers Court and taken into custody without incident Emerson said, adding that no one was injured.

Investigators found that Brown also was under the influence of meth and had the drug concealed under her clothing, Emerson said.

Both were lodged in the Deschutes County Jail, Brown on charges of felony attempt to elude police, DUII, meth possession and interfering with a police officer, while also cited for driving with a suspended license and no insurance. She was released within an hour to a responsible third party, pending an April 19 court date, a jail officer said.

Watson remained in jail Sunday, held without bail on a parole violation warrant and new charges of interfering with a police officer and second-degree criminal trespass. He also was cited for infractions of not wearing a seat belt and having an open container of alcohol, Emerson said.