Bend man, woman arrested after Third Street chase

A Bend man wanted on an outstanding warrant ran from police and threw away a bag with a gun in it before officers arrested him on Southeast Third Street Tuesday morning, police said. A woman who was with him also was taken into custody.

James Karl Rahn, 31, was contacted in front of a room at Motel 6 on Northeast Third Street around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, said Lt. Clint Burleigh. During a brief talk with police, Rahn gave a false name and walked away with a woman later identified as Kristina Marie Stewart, 26, Burleigh said.

Police soon learned the name Rahn gave was not valid in area law enforcement databases, the lieutenant said. They developed more information and identified Rahn, learning he had a felony arrest warrant for probation violation.

Rahn left the area and was found by officers on Southeast Third Street and Miller Avenue. Told he was under arrest, Rahn ran and dropped a bag in the process, Burleigh said. He ran across Third Street amid busy traffic, which stopped for the suspect and allowed the officer to continue pursuing him.

After a short chase, the officer contacted Rahn in the 100 block of Third Street. He initially resisted arrest but was soon taken into custody, Burleigh said, adding that neither the suspect or officer were injured in the encounter.

Officers found the bag thrown by James and found a Smith and Wesson 40-caliber semi-automatic handgun inside, Burleigh said.

Officers also found and identified the woman, Stewart, in the same area, hiding behind a wall. She was found to have been in possession of a suspected methamphetamine pipe.

Both were taken to the Deschutes County Jail and held without bail on probation violation charges. Rahn also is charged with giving false information to a police officer, third-degree escape, resisting arrest, felon in possession of a firearm and hindering prosecution. Stewart also faces a drug possession charge.

Burleigh said in a news release Bend police “would like to thank several community members for stopping to make sure officers were safe while making these arrests.”