Crook County prosecutor jailed after high-speed Marion Co. chase

A Crook County deputy district attorney was arrested in Marion County Monday on charges of attempting to elude police, accused of speeding away from a sheriff’s deputy late Sunday and abandoning his car in a rural area near state Highway 22.

Deputies said they had towed the car when he returned to the property early Monday, looking for it.

A sheriff’s deputy tried to stop an Audi A3 around 11:30 p.m. Sunday for driving at 80 mph in a 55 mph zone on state Highway 22 near Lyons, in eastern Marion County. When a deputy turned on his lights, the driver, later identified as Matthew Reiner, 29, of Bend, sped away on a gravel road, they said.

Due to a large amount of dust, the deputy slowed down, but soon found the car abandoned in a driveway along Riverhaven Lane Southeast, near Stayton.

Around 6:30 a.m. Monday, a resident of that area called the sheriff’s office to report a man was on his property, searching for the car.

Deputies said they caught up with Reiner as he walked away from the home and “described Mr. Reiner as dirty, wet, scraped up and in possession of a key to an Audi,” the news release stated.

Deputies determined Reiner was the registered owner of the car and a Crook County deputy DA. “It is unclear why Mr. Reiner chose not to stop for the deputy,” the sheriff’s office news release stated.

Reiner was taken to the county jail in Salem and booked on charges of attempting to elude police in a vehicle and on foot. He later was released, pending a scheduled court appearance on Sept. 12 at 9:30 a.m.

Crook County District Attorney Daina Vitolins said that following county policy, Reiner has been placed on paid administrative leave while the investigation is pending. She said Reiner has been with the DA’s office for 2 1/2 years but is unable to make any other comments.