Pursuit ends in arrest
By Terry Murry on Friday, June 3rd, 2022 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
News release from Pendleton Police Department:
Friday June 3, 2022 at 6:06 a.m., a Pendleton Police Department patrol officer attempted to make a traffic stop in the area of the 1400 block of SW Emigrant Avenue on a gray Subaru Impreza with Washington license plates. The patrol officer attempted to stop the vehicle after recognizing one of the passengers in the vehicle as having a valid felony warrant for his arrest.
Initially, the driver of the vehicle pulled over, but as the officer approached, the driver of the vehicle fled the stop at a high rate of speed. The patrol officer gave chase, but lost sight of the vehicle near Southgate and SW 20th Street. At about that time, an Oregon State Police Trooper observed the suspect vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed in the center lane on Southgate, traveling South. The OSP Trooper, along with the Pendleton Police Department patrol officer pursued the vehicle.
The pursuit continued through the McKay area, ultimately going back through town and onto the North Hill. During this time, the two passengers fled the vehicle while the driver continued to flee pursuing officers. Ultimately, the driver of the suspect vehicle crashed into an Oregon State Police car on the 10th Street bridge. Pursuing officers were able to take the driver into custody at approximately 6:16 a.m., but the passengers were not able to be located.
Pendleton Police Department officers took 37-year-old Aaron Cole Mapston, Pasco address, into custody for Attempt to Elude-Vehicle, Reckless Driving and on a State of Washington Department of Corrections felony warrant. Officers know who the two passengers are and will continue to seek them out to arrest them on their warrants as well.
Mapston made comments to the arresting officers telling them that they (the police) were not supposed to pursue him, alluding to the State of Washington legislation prohibiting law enforcement from pursuing vehicles. Mapston was advised that he was not in the State of Washington.
Evidence seized from the vehicle included approximately ¼ pound of suspected methamphetamine and 92 suspected fentanyl pills. The additional controlled substance charges will be added as well through the Umatilla County District Attorney’s Office. No injuries were sustained by any of the responding units, the suspect or members of the public.
The Pendleton Police Department would like to thank the Oregon State Police for their assistance in this matter.
