Speeding motorcycle chase ends in Hwy. 97 crash, arrest

A 27-year-old Tigard motorcyclist accompanied by a Portland woman led Oregon State Police on an off-and-on pursuit at speeds of up to 149 mph until he crashed at slower speed on Highway 97 near Lava Butte late Wednesday afternoon, then ran and was captured nearby, troopers said Thursday.

Tyler Evan Harp and passenger Chelsea Jacks, 20, were taken by ambulance to St. Charles Bend for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, said Lt. Bill Fugate. Jacks was treated and later released while Harp was taken to the Deschutes County Jail, where he was held without bail on an out-of-county warrant.

His new charges include attempting to elude police, assault, reckless driving, recklessly endangering, resisting arrest and felon in possession of a restricted weapon, apparently a knife.

It all began around 2:30 p.m., on Highway 31 near milepost 48 in Lake County, when a trooper spotted Harp’s 2015 Kawasaki Ninja motorcycle carrying a passenger and going 90 mph in a 55-mph zone, Fugate said.

The trooper tried to pull Harp over, but he sped up to more than 120 mph to get away, the lieutenant said.

About 15 minutes later, another trooper spotted the motorcycle and pulled in front of it on Highway 31 near milepost 7 in Klamath County, activated his lights and motioned the operator to the shoulder. But Fugate said Harp refused to stop and the trooper declined to pursue it.

A short time later, the motorcycle was spotted by a Deschutes County sheriff’s deputy on Highway 31 at Beal Road at speeds reportedly of 149 mph as it continued onto Highway 97 heading north in reckless fashion, troopers said.

Around 4 p.m., OSP spotted the motorcycle and tried to stop it a third time on Highway 97 south of La Pine. But again Harp fled, traveling onto side roads, and later was seen returning to northbound Highway 97, where OSP declined to give chase, Fugate said.

Around 4:50 p.m., OSP again located Harp’s motorcycle and tried to conduct a traffic stop on Highway 97 at milepost 149, south of Bend at Lava Butte.

Harp at first slowed and pulled to the shoulder, but then sped away again, this time colliding with a Dodge SUV before running away, Fugate said.

A search began and Harp was found in the area a short time later. Fugate said more charges are pending in Lake and Klamath counties.