Redmond PD K-9 catches hiding fugitive after pursuit

A Redmond man wanted on suspicion of car theft and violating parole fled police in northwest Redmond early Friday until spike strips eventually disabled his car, officials said. He then ran and hid near St. Thomas Catholic Church until a police K-9 team found him and he was arrested, police said.

Around 12:45 a.m., Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies stopped a 2014 Ford Explorer in the Redmond Walmart parking lot for not having a license plate, Sgt. Shawn Heierman said. Deputies learned the SUV had been stolen out of Portland last November, and the driver was arrested. That driver’s name was not immediately available.

While investigating the stolen SUV, deputies learned Scott Robert Wilson, 30, of Redmond, also was associated with it, Heierman said.

Around 2:30 a.m., deputies found and tried to stop Wilson, who was driving a red 2002 BMW sedan, near the 3500 block of Northwest Maple Avenue, the sergeant said.

When he fled, spike strips were deployed in an attempt to stop the car. A brief, low-speed pursuit continued through a northwest Redmond neighborhood until Wilson’s disabled vehicle stopped in the back property of St. Thomas Catholic Church at 19th Street and Maple Avenue, Heierman said.

Wilson ran from the car and hid on church property until Redmond police Officer Josh Powers and his K-9 partner Maverick found him. He was arrested without further incident.

Wilson was taken to the county jail in Bend, where he was held without bail on a felony parole violation warrant. New charges include car theft, attempting to elude police by vehicle and on foot, reckless driving and misdemeanor driving with a suspended license.

Heierman said the sheriff’s office wants to thank Redmond police and Oregon State Police for their assistance in the investigation.

Court records for Wilson show a lengthy criminal record, including a 2016 guilty plea and conviction on a fourth-degree assault charge that brought a 15-month prison term and a 2015 no-contest plea to fourth-degree assault and coercion charges that led to a 30-day jail term and three years probation.