Bend man charged in chase, ‘stolen car’ report

Oregon State Police arrested a 26-year-old Bend man on several charges Saturday after he allegedly eluded police at speeds of up to 85 mph in the early-morning hours, then filed a false police report indicating his car had been stolen.

Shortly after 2 a.m. Saturday, a trooper patrolling southbound on Third Street near Cleveland Avenue saw a silver Subaru Impreza hatchback speeding and checked it on radar going 64 mph in a 35 mph speed zone, troopers said Sunday.

As the car was going out of sight, the trooper got a second radar speed reading of 85 mph. The trooper turned on the overhead lights and tried to overtake and stop the car.

At one point, troopers said, the driver reversed directions, coming toward the trooper, who saw two males in the car before it went out of sight.

The trooper notified Bend police, providing a vehicle description and partial license plate.

Around 11 a.m., the Subaru was found in the Parrell Mobile Home Park by a property manager, troopers said.

Bend police responded and contacted the car’s owner, Christopher Lee Edlefsen, 26, who had filed a stolen car report, claiming his car had been taken overnight.

Around 4:30 p.m. Saturday, the OSP trooper involved in the early-morning chase also contacted Edlefsen, immediately identifying him as the driver at that time.

Edlefsen was arrested and booked into the Deschutes County Jail on a felony charge of attempt to elude in a vehicle, as well as reckless driving, recklessly endangering another person and initiating a false police report. A jail officer said he was released Saturday night after meeting release criteria.