Bend Walmart shoplifting sparks chase, two arrests

An early-morning shoplifting case at the Bend Walmart led to a car chase and the eventual arrest of two Bend residents, police said.

Bend police and Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies responded around 5:50 a.m. to a report of a theft in progress at the Walmart on Pinebrook Boulevard, said Sgt. Mike Landolt.

An investigation determined the two suspects, later identified as Casey Finnell 29, and Nicholas Butler, 31, were shoplifting at the store, then ran and got in a car identified as a black 2006 Saab 9-3, Landolt said.

When police found the car, a sheriff’s deputy tried to pull it over, leading to a pursuit from the area of Powers Road and the Bend Parkway to where it stopped, in the area of American Lane and Reed Market Road. The chase was at speeds ranging from 40 mph to above 70 mph, Landolt said.

The driver, Finnell, ran from the car after stopping but was found nearby and taken into custody. Butler, the passenger, also was arrested.

Several items stolen from Walmart were found in the car, as well as some stolen from the Big R store in Redmond, Landolt said. The Walmart items included clothing, backpacks, bedding, cellphones and more, he said, while chainsaws and nails were taken in the Saturday Big R theft.

Both men were taken to the county jail, with Finnell facing charges of DUII, attempt to elude police by car and on foot, reckless driving, reckless endangering and first-degree theft. He remained in the jail later Monday, held on $50,000 bail.

Butler also was charged with first-degree theft and held without bail on a probation violation charge.