Wanted Bend man flees police; public tips sought

Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies asked the public for help Sunday night in finding a Bend man, wanted on out-of-county warrants, who fled a State Police traffic stop in Tumalo and eluded pursuing deputies and a K-9 team, prompting an emergency phone alert to area residents.

Lt. Mike Biondi said an OSP trooper pulled over a white 1992 Ford F-350 pickup shortly before 1 p.m. at Fifth Street and Cook Avenue after receiving a traffic complaint.

The driver, Ronald K. Credille, 22, of Bend, provided ID to the trooper but then ran away. It was learned Credille had two outstanding arrest warrants out of Linn County, Biondi said.

Several deputies headed to the Tumalo area to help, and Credille was spotted a short time later by a deputy at the end of Riverview Drive and fled across Highway 20, Biondi said. A deputy gave chase along the south end of the Knife River complex but lost Credille in the area.

A sheriff’s office dog team was requested and Deputy Jeremiah Johnson and his K-9 partner Ezel responded to help and began tracking Credille.

An EPN (Emergency Phone Network) notice was sent to residents in the area, asking them to secure their homes and be on the lookout for him, Biondi said.

Credille was tracked along the Deschutes River and the K-9 team found a hat and hooded sweatshirt Credille had dropped on the run, the lieutenant said.

The sheriff’s office asked the public for help in finding Credille. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the 911 non-emergency number at 541-693-6911.