Man arrested after chase through Baker County
By Paul Hall on Monday, September 27th, 2021 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News Eastern/Southeast Oregon Top Stories
BAKER COUNTY – (Release from the Baker City Police Department) On September 21, 2021, at around 1100 hours, detectives with the Baker City Police Department and an Oregon State Police Sergeant attempted to stop a white Chevrolet Monte Carlo as the result of an ongoing Baker County Narcotics Enforcement Team investigation into drug and firearm trafficking.
The driver of the vehicle, Mr. Zachary Persicke, initially stopped for police at Atwood and East Campbell Street on the east side of Baker City and three passengers fled on foot from the vehicle. The driver, Mr. Persicke then fled in the vehicle where he was pursued by detectives and officers with the Oregon State Police and Baker City Police Department. The chase went onto Interstate 84 from milepost 304, westbound to the Wolf Creek exit in Union County near milepost 283. Speeds up to this point in the pursuit were logged at over 100 miles per hour. Near North Powder, Mr. Persicke called 9-1-1 and started making lethal force threats towards law enforcement that was pursuing him. The dispatcher started negotiating with Mr. Persicke and was able to get Mr. Persicke to slow his speeds down into the 80 miles per hour range.
At Wolf Creek, Mr. Persicke exited the westbound lanes, crossed over the freeway overpass, and got back onto Interstate 84 eastbound. Negotiations between Mr. Persicke and the dispatchers continued as the pursuit returned toward Baker City. Officers from the Baker City Police Department and Troopers from the Oregon State Police continued to pursue Mr. Persicke back towards Baker City, now at speeds between 75 miles per hour to 90 miles per hour.
As the pursuit neared Baker City, Baker City Police officers were able to successfully deploy spike strips and flatten a tire on Mr. Persicke’s vehicle. Mr. Persicke slowed his speed into the 60-70 mile per but continued eastbound. He exited the freeway at milepost 304, crossed Campbell Street, and got back onto the freeway, continuing eastbound.
Officers and Troopers continued to pursue Mr. Persicke. At some point, Baker County Parole and Probation officers responded to Mr. Persickes residence where they were able to contact his mother and girlfriend. As a result, they were able to get in touch with Persicke via phone and help negotiate him to surrender. Mr. Persicke pulled over and surrendered without incident to officers and troopers at milepost 330, near Ash Grove Cement Plant. Mr. Persicke was arrested and transported to the Baker County Jail where he was lodged.
As a result of several search warrants and the investigation conducted by the Baker County Narcotics Enforcement Team, about a pound of suspected methamphetamine, multiple ounces of heroin and opioid pills were seized from the vehicle along with a loaded Glock .45 pistol that had been sitting in the passenger seat as well as a loaded Smith and Wesson AR-15 rifle with a 60 round capacity magazine that was in the trunk of the car. Other indicators of narcotic trafficking were also seized.
A follow-up search warrant at the residence where Mr. Persicke resides with his mother was also conducted where police located about a ½ pound of methamphetamine, several grams of heroin along with a sawed-off 12 gauge shotgun and three handguns.
The following person was arrested because of the investigation:
Zachary Charles Persicke – a 36-year-old male – address: 2690 9th Street, Baker City, Oregon was initially lodged in the Baker County Jail on a state-wide parole violation warrant. On September 23rd, 2021, a Baker County Grand Jury heard the case and came back with a true bill on Mr. Persike for the following:
- Attempt to Elude Police Officers
- Felon in Possession of Firearm X 2
- Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine and Heroin (Felony)
- Unlawful Delivery of methamphetamine and Heroin
The Baker City Police Department was assisted in this incident by the Baker County Sheriff’s Office, Baker County Parole and Probation, Union County Sheriff’s Office and the Oregon State Police.
