Bend man arrested near La Pine in car theft

A Bend man was arrested early Wednesday on car theft and other charges after he eluded Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies near La Pine, then returned to the area hours later and drove up and down the street, honking the horn, deputies said.

Around 9:20 p.m. Tuesday, a deputy spotted a suspicious car in the area of Big Timber Drive and Eagles Nest Drive, said Sgt. Troy Gotchy. The deputy turned his car to follow the car, but the driver immediately sped off, Gotchy said.

The deputy was able to determine the car headed east on Hawks Lair Road and drove down the road, finding the car unoccupied in the driveway at 161789 Hawks Lair Road, Gotchy said.

A search perimeter was set up and a Bend police K-9 was sent to the area to assist, Gotchy said, but a lengthy search did not find the driver.

During the search, the car’s owner called Bend police to report it had been stolen. Gotchy said the car and keys were taken during a burglary at a Bend home.

Shortly after 1 a.m. Wednesday, a resident from the same area as the earlier incident called police to report a car driving up and down Big Timber Drive, honking its horn, Gotchy said.

Deputies went back, found the car and stopped it, arresting driver Jeffery Carl Mansfield, 26. He was booked into the county jail in Bend on charges of car theft, burglary, first-degree theft and a felony charge of driving with a suspended license, Gotchy said.

The car was towed from the scene and secured at a tow yard until the driver could retrieve it.