Portland pair held in Sisters gas drive-off, worker injury

(Update: Minor injuries to attendant; gun was found in trunk)

Two Portland men were arrested on parole violation and other charges in a Tumalo traffic stop Wednesday afternoon after partially paying for gas at a Sisters gas station, then hitting and injuring a gas station employee trying to stop them from leaving, Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies said.

Prescription drugs and a loaded gun were found in the car, they added.

Deputies were dispatched around 4:30 p.m. to the reported hit-and-run at Space Age Fuel, 411 West Cascade Avenue in Sisters, Sgt. William Bailey said in a news release.

A 911 dispatcher was told the driver of a black Kia Soul had partially paid for requested gas, then left, and an attendant trying to stop the driver was struck and suffered apparent minor injuries, Bailey said.

The fuel attendant and a co-worker were able to provide a description of the car, as well as the license plate and a description of the three occupants, he said.

An “attempt to locate” bulletin was broadcast to police throughout Central Oregon, Bailey said. About 12 minutes after the gas drive-off, two sheriff’s deputies spotted the car heading east on Highway 20 near Couch Market Road.

A traffic stop on Highway 20 near Tumalo led to the arrest of driver Victor Akeem White, 33, and passenger Coltin Ray Johnson, 26. Deputies searching the car also found prescription medication, while a loaded handgun was found in the trunk, Bailey said.

White was booked into the county jail on a no-bail parole violation detainer, also facing charges of second-degree robbery, third-degree assault, reckless driving, reckless endangering, drug possession and felon in possession of a weapon. Johnson also was held without bail for a parole violation, and charged with drug possession (without a prescription).

A second, female passenger was released at the scene.

Sheriff’s deputies were assisted by Black Butte Ranch and Bend police, Bailey said.