Motorcycle Pursuit in Wallowa-Whitman National Forest Results in Arrest
By Garrett Christensen on Tuesday, October 29th, 2024 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
BAKER CITY – (Release from the U.S. Forest Service) A pursuit initiated by a U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement Officer on October 13, 2024, led to the arrest of two operators involved in reckless driving within the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest.
Deputy Hansen from Baker County Sheriff’s Office notified U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement Officer Betts of two motorcycles driving recklessly towards Baker City on Highway 7 and requested his assistance. Officer Betts observed the operators riding at high speeds towards his direction. Officer Betts observed one operator dangerously passing a vehicle on a blind turn. Despite attempts by Officer Betts to stop them using emergency lights and sirens, both motorcycles refused to yield.
The pursuit continued onto Old Auburn Lane, where one motorcycle operator crashed into a tree and the other fled further down the road before yielding to Officer Betts and giving his information as well as the crashed operator’s name. At this time, the crashed operator fled the crash site, prompting a search that lasted over an hour.
A coordinated response was initiated and involved multiple agencies — including Baker County Sheriff’s Office, Baker City Police Department, Oregon State Police, and Union County Sheriff’s Office. K9 Molly from the Union County Sheriff’s Office was deployed to assist in the search. The crashed operator was located in a nearby creek bed and detained. He refused medical attention at the scene. Deputy Hansen interviewed the crashed operator, transported him to the jail, and performed field sobriety tests.
The left image shows the crash site of crashed motorcycle. The right image shows the crashed operator’s hiding spot.
Officer Betts submitted a number of charges to the County Attorney’s Office, with the some of the most significant being Reckless Driving, Fleeing or Attempting to Elude Police Officer, Failure to Perform Duties of Driver When Property is Damaged, Criminal Driving while Suspended/Revoked, and Criminal Mischief in the Third Degree
