"This is yet another example of the dangers our officers face on a daily basis."
According to the Portland Police Bureau, if the suspect had not crashed into the police cruiser, he would have "driven into the side of a nearby house, where a child was sleeping."
At 1:42 am Wednesday, officers were called to conduct a welfare check on a man who was spotted slumped inside a Ford F-350 near Southeast 119th Avenue and Clinton Street while the engine was still running.
The person who made the report knocked on the window of the truck, but the man, identified as Jeremiah Lee Prueitt (42), was unresponsive.
Responding officers saw a handgun in the center console as well as drug paraphernalia and proceeded to place spike strips under the tires should the man attempt to drive away while under the influence.
Photo: Portland Police Bureau
Police attempted to rouse the man using sirens, air horns, and a loudspeaker PA but were unsuccessful. When Prueitt did eventually wake up and saw the police cars he drove off and though the spike strips popped the tires, he continued driving south on the avenue.
According to police, he ran a stop sign at Powell Boulevard and crashed head-on into a parked police cruiser and the two officers inside the vehicle suffered minor injuries.
Photo: Portland Police Bureau
Prueitt then reportedly got out and ran from police but was taken into custody 20 minutes later.
Police then discovered that the F-350 was stolen from Vancouver, WA. Prueitt was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center and charged with:
- Unlawful Use of a Motor Vehicle
- Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle
- Possession of a Loaded Firearm
- Unlawful Possession of a Firearm
- Felon in Possession of a Firearm
- Attempt to Elude in a Vehicle
- Reckless Driving (Two Counts)
- Interfering with a Peace Officer
- Attempt to Elude on Foot
- Failure to Perform the Duty of a Driver (Hit & Run)
Chief Charles Lovell said, "This is yet another example of the dangers our officers face on a daily basis. I'm grateful these two officers weren't more seriously injured, and for all the officers’ efforts in taking this dangerous individual off the streets."
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