Driver sought in 100 mph Madras-Culver chase

Jefferson County sheriff’s deputies are looking for a 52-year-old man who allegedly refused to pull over and led deputies on a chase from Madras to Culver early Thursday at speeds of up to 100 mph, eventually abandoning his car and running, leaving an 18-year-old female passenger behind.

The pursuit that went from Madras to and around Culver began around 1:40 a.m. Thursday when a deputy tried to stop a red 1992 Honda Civic for speeding, but the driver, identified as Steve Waldorf, refused to pull over, Sheriff Jim Adkins said.

The chase that ranged in speeds from 30 to 100 mph was called off just before 2 a.m. “because of the dangerous and recklessness of the driver while inside the Culver city limits,” Adkins told NewsChannel 21.

Shortly after 2 a.m., the car was found abandoned at SW Feather Drive and Gem Lane near Culver, its driver having fled, the sheriff said, leaving passenger Hailey Ziems, 18, in the car. She had suffered minor injuries “from being thrown around the inside” of the car during the pursuit, Adkins said, adding that Ziems identified the driver as Waldorf.

Adkins said they had probable cause to arrest Waldorf “on numerous charges” and were getting a warrant for his arrest. He added that Waldorf “is well-known to us” due to past arrests on property crimes and drug charges.

Ziems was taken by Jefferson County ambulance to St. Charles Redmond to be examined. After her release, she was arrested and booked into the county jail, held without bail pending arraignment on a misdemeanor warrant for trespassing, Adkins said.

Adkins said Thursday night that Waldorf “is still on the loose, but we’ll get him.”