Wanted man flees DCSO deputies south of Bend; K-9s, drone help track, arrest him at his trailer off China Hat Road

(Update: Suspect named, arraigned on charges)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – A man wanted on a warrant and new charges left his SUV and fled Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies along China Hat Road south of Bend Monday night, leading to a manhunt using two K-9s and a drone and his arrest at his trailer in the Deschutes National Forest.

Around 9:20 p.m., deputies tried to contact the driver of a Toyota 4-Runner “that had abruptly turned into the Deschutes National Forest from China Hat Road near milepost 2,” Sergeant Jason Wall said in a news release Tuesday.

The SUV soon stopped and the driver jumped out and ran on foot to the west into the forest, Wall said.

Deputies learned the 35-year-old man, Jonathan David Hurlbut, was wanted in Deschutes County on a warrant for second-degree theft. Bend Police advised they had probable cause to arrest him on a second-degree theft charge, while Oregon State Police said they had probable cause to arrest him on a felony charge of eluding police, according to Wall.

Deputies and K-9 Vinnie tracked Hurlbut on foot west and south through the forest, Wall said. Bend Police responded with a drone operator and K-9 Buck. That dog picked up his track and led patrol units south to a trailer at the man’s camp off China Hat Road near milepost 3, Wall said.

DCSO and Bend Police surrounded Hurlbut's trailer and made verbal contact shortly after 11 p.m. Wall said he came out of the trailer and was taken into custody without further incident.

Hurlbut was taken to the county jail in Bend and booked on charges of fleeing or attempting to elude police, second-degree theft and the warrant for failure to appear in court on a second-degree theft charge.

Hurlbut was arraigned Tuesday on the two initial formal Class A misdemeanor charges of fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer and third-degree escape. He remained held at the jail on $10,000 bail Wednesday and is scheduled to return to court March 18 to enter a plea after a grand jury's expected indictment.

Wall said the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank Bend PD for their help in tracking and arresting Hurlbut.