Redmond high-speed chase ends in crash, arrest

A high-speed chase of a reckless driver who ran a red light in southwest Redmond Friday night ended in a crash and arrest of the driver, a 23-year-old Redmond man, police said. But he only spent 33 minutes in jail before being released.

Shortly after 8 p.m., officers saw a gray older BMW being driven in a reckless manner in the area of Highway 97 and Southwest Veterans Way, and the driver, later identified as Kristian Cooper, allegedly ran a red light, said Lt. Keith Knight.

When officers tried to stop the driver, he took off at a high rate of speed, estimated to reach 80 mph at times, Knight said.

Cooper drove on Veterans Way, then the wrong way on 11 th Street to Glacier Avenue, from where his car headed west on Glacier, which turns into Highland Avenue near 15 th Street, the lieutenant said.

The driver headed west on Highland to Canyon Drive, where it was unable to negotiate the corner while turning onto Canyon Drive. It struck the curb and a planter at the Coldwell Banker Realty parking lot, Knight said.

The driver and passenger were unhurt, and no other vehicles or people were involved, police said.

Cooper was taken into custody without further incident, while the passenger was released at the scene with no charges.

Cooper was taken to Bend and lodged in the Deschutes County jail on charges of reckless driving, felony attempt to elude and recklessly endangering another.

A jail officer said Cooper was booked into the jail at 9:18 p.m. and released on his own recognizance at 9:51 p.m., pending a Sept. 28 court date.

Knight asked anyone with information about the case to leave a private message on the department’s Facebook page or call 541-693-6911, referring to case 16-253982.