A high-speed pursuit that began in Oregon ended nearly 40 minutes later in Battle Ground late Wednesday, Sept. 9, after a juvenile allegedly fled in a stolen Kia Soul and an additional occupant abandoned the vehicle.
Clark County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) deputies were notified at approximately 11:08 p.m. that Clackamas County deputies were pursuing a 2016 Kia Soul northbound on Interstate-205 toward Washington state, CCSO stated in an email to The Reflector.
A law enforcement fixed-wing aircraft registered to the Portland Police Bureau monitored the vehicle as it crossed into Washington on Interstate 5. According to the sheriff’s office, the Kia was traveling at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour and passing vehicles on the shoulder, including at times when no law enforcement vehicles were actively pursuing it, CCSO stated.
The vehicle eventually made its way off Interstate 5 and stopped near Southwest Second Avenue and Southwest 18th Street in Battle Ground. The aircraft reported seeing two occupants leave the Kia Soul and travel in separate directions, according to the sheriff’s office.
With assistance from the aircraft, Battle Ground Police Department officers, sheriff’s deputies and community members located and arrested the driver.
The driver was identified as a juvenile. The Kia was later confirmed to have been stolen, CCSO stated.
The juvenile was booked into the Clark County Juvenile Detention Center on suspicion of possession of a stolen vehicle and attempting to elude.
For at least one Battle Ground homeowner, the pursuit ended with an unexpected encounter in their backyard.
The homeowner told The Reflector on-scene that a police officer alerted them that someone was in their backyard.
The homeowner then looked outside and saw one of the suspects standing in the middle of the yard.
“I was like, that's a surprise to me,” the homeowner said.
The homeowner said the suspect appeared to be upset after leaving a phone in their backyard and later returned to retrieve it.
“He started pounding his head because he left his phone in my backyard,” the homeowner recalled.
The homeowner added they planned to check around their property afterward to make sure nothing had been left behind or hidden in a trailer.
Shortly after, CCSO deputies checked around the homeowner’s trailer again and found a ski mask.
CCSO deputies said on scene early on Thursday, Sept. 10, that the second occupant was believed to be back in Portland and no longer a possible threat to the Battle Ground neighborhood.
