Redmond police dog finds fugitive hiding in barn after chase

A Redmond man wanted on a felony warrant led police on a pursuit in a stolen car early Monday, eventually crashed, got out and ran but was found hiding in a barn by police K-9 Arco and his handler, officers said.

Around 4:20 a.m., officers spotted a black Toyota Corolla in the area of Northeast Ninth Street and Hemlock Avenue, said Sgt. Hank Majetich. A check of the registration showed the Oregon license plate on the car ad been reported stolen.

The officer attempted a traffic stop, but the driver, later identified as Kendall Leroy Hickman, 28, of Redmond, sped off, sparking a pursuit that continued north onto Highway 97 (the Redmond Bypass), Majetich said.

The chase continued into the Tetherow area of Redmond, then southeast toward Eagle Crest Resort. Officers lost sight of the car in the area of Northwest 74 th Street and Southeast Eagle Drive.

A short time later, an area resident called to report an unoccupied car off the road on Eagle Drive, still running and with its door open.

Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies and Redmond Police K-9 teams were called in to conduct an area search.

Police dog Arco and handler Majetich found Hickman hiding in a barn a few hundred yards from the car, and he was taken into custody without incident, the sergeant said.

A check of the car’s stolen license plates determined the car was recently reported stolen from the Redmond area. So the stolen car had another car’s stolen license plates on it, Majetich said.

Clackamas County online records show Hickman was wanted on a felony warrant issued April 11 on a charge of driving with a suspended or revoked license.

He was taken to the Deschutes County Jail and lodged on the out-of-county warrant, as well as attempting to elude police in a vehicle, possession of a stolen vehicle and criminal driving with a suspended-revoked license. Initial bail totaled $65,000, according to jail records.

Redmond police thanked the sheriff’s office and OSP for their assistance. Anyone with information about the incident was asked to contact Redmond Police at (541) 504-3400 or Deschutes County’s non-emergency dispatch number, (541) 693-6911.