Jefferson County high-speed chase leads to arrest

A high-speed chase Wednesday led to one man being arrested and taken into custody in Jefferson County.

According to Jefferson County Sheriff Jim Adkins, the pursuit began shortly before 1 p.m. in Madras.

Adkins said a Madras police officer was trying to stop Jeremy Steele, 22, who was driving a white Ford Focus, for speeding.

Adkins told NewsChannel 21 the chase was called off a short time later due to the busy area and the risk of someone being injured.

Sheriff’s deputies and Oregon’s State Police troopers located the car just south of Madras and began pursuit Steele, who apparently ran.

The chase ended, Adkins said, when Steele’s struck a OSP trooper’s patrol car, causing minor damage but no injuries, then ended up in a ditch.

Adkins said Steele began to run from officers and a helicopter was called in to help find the suspect.

Deputies found Steele hiding in some sagebrush and took him into custody without further incident.

Steele was brooked into the Madras jail on two counts of attempting to elude police and one each of reckless driving and hit-and-run (property). with initial bail set at $50,000.

Adkins said Steele had an outstanding felony warrant for a probation violation from Crook County.