Police pursuit through NE Bend ends with arrest

A Bend man who refused to pull over for police early Saturday led officers on a slow-speed chase through the northeast side of town, including the parking lot and landscaping at Bend High School and a nearby church, officers said.

The driver, later identified as Colton Todd Staples, 32, eventually stopped, got out and was arrested on reckless driving and other charges after a struggle with officers and Oregon State Police troopers, police said

The string of events began around 1:15 a.m. Saturday, when a Bend officer tried to stop a 2004 Hyundai in the area of Northeast Sixth Street and Alden Avenue for an alleged traffic violation, reckless driving, said Lt. Ken Mannix.

But Staples did not stop for the officer and while trying to make a turn slid off the road, into a snowbank and came to a stop, Mannix said. As officers tried to contact the driver, he was able to free his car and drive away.

Staples kept driving “in a reckless manner” through the parking lot of Bend High and the landscaping in front of the school, as well as the landscaping of a nearby church, Mannix said.

The pursuit continued at slow speeds to the north on Third Street, then east on Butler Market Road and eventually ending on NE Veronica Lane, where he stopped his car in the road.

Mannix said officers tried to engage Staples through verbal commands. He eventually got out of the car and at first complied with their commands, but then ran up a driveway to the front door of a home “he was familiar with,” the lieutenant said.

Once at the front door, Staples continued to ignore police commands and physically resisted arrest, but was taken into custody by Bend and OSP officers. Mannix said there were no injuries.

Staples remained lodged Sunday at the Deschutes County Jail, held without bail on a parole violation, also facing charges of felony and misdemeanor attempt to elude police (by vehicle and on foot), reckless driving and resisting arrest.

Mannix said there were no indications drugs or alcohol played a role in what took place.