Police chases, major manhunt south of Prineville don’t catch fugitive, arrested later when he asked homeowner to use phone

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) – An off-and-on high-speed chase in the Prineville area and extensive manhunt south of town Wednesday for a Prineville man wanted on several warrants did not locate him, but he was arrested later when he went to a house and asked a homeowner to use the phone, Crook County sheriff’s deputies said.

Around 9:40 a.m., a sheriff’s deputy saw a silver car speeding west on the Northeast Ochoco Highway near milepost 25, Lieutenant Mitch Madden said Thursday in a news release.

The deputy turned around and tried to stop the car, losing sight for a moment before finding it heading north on Johnson Creek Road. The deputy pursued the car to Wainright Road at speeds topping 90 mph. The deputy discontinued the chase over public safety concerns but continued to follow at a safe distance, without lights or siren, Madden said.

Deputies followed the driver, who turned onto Barnes Butte Road, then to McKay Road and North Main Street. They coordinated with Prineville Police officers to intercept the car with spike strips. The driver reached Main street and turned south toward Prineville, still at a high rate of speed.

Minutes later, a Prineville officer at the corner of Main and NW Ninth Street advised the driver apparently tried to hit his patrol car at about 70 mph. He then initiated a pursuit southbound on Main Street.

Law enforcement identified the 38-year-old driver as Timothy Lee Smith, who had several outstanding felony warrants and officer safety alerts, Madden said.

Prineville police and Crook County deputies continued the pursuit to the south, as Main Street turns into Highway 27, the Crooked River Highway. The pursuit again was discontinued as speeds reached more than 100 mph.

Officers and deputies coordinated with Oregon State Police troopers and BLM Law Enforcement rangers to search for Smith. The car eventually was found abandoned near milepost 18 on Highway 27.

Deputies established a perimeter and a CCSO drone, OSP aircraft and three K-9 teams from OSP, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office and Redmond Police were deployed.

A Prineville officer spotted Smith running uphill in steep, rocky terrain just below the rimrock, Madden said. K-9 handlers were deployed from the bottom of the hill and ascended the rugged terrain.

Deputies coordinated a response from other law enforcement, including the Redmond Police K-9 to BLM land atop the rimrock, south of Prineville Lake Acres II. K-9s continued the track up the hillside and several caves in the rimrock were searched, but Smith could not be found.

Area residents received emails and the sheriff's office made a Facebook post during the manhunt, warning about the suspect, giving a description and advising that "if seen, do not approach. Use caution. Call 911 immediately."

An extensive area search for several hours was concluded around 2 p.m., Madden said.

Wednesday evening, deputies responded to the area of SE Tacoma Road on a report that a man believed involved in the pursuit was at a house and asked a homeowner to use their phone.

Deputies found and arrested Suspect, who was taken to St. Charles Prineville for evaluation and later lodged at the county jail on several felony and misdemeanor charges.

The district attorney’s office filed six initial charges Thursday against Smith, including Class C felony counts of second-degree attempted assault and two counts of fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, and misdemeanor counts of attempt to assault a public safety officer, recklessly endangering another person and reckless driving.

Smith was scheduled for arraignment Thursday afternoon. Jail records showed he was being held without bail on a parole violation.

Madden said the sheriff’s office wanted to thank the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, OSP, Prineville and Redmond police and BLM Law Enforcement for their assistance.