A man has been charged with DUII Alcohol after crashing a pickup truck into the gates of the Sutherlin Police Department on Saturday night.
He is 38-year old Michael Hammond. He also faces charges of reckless driving, first-degree reckless endangerment, first-degree criminal mischief and failure to perform the duties of a driver. Hammond was initially detained on $85,000 bail.
He was among three people who were arrested.
Police Chief Troy Mills said officers inside the station heard a loud crash just after 10:30 p.m. and then heard a vehicle accelerating behind their office.
When they ran out the east side of the building, they saw the pickup had crashed through both the entrance and exit gates to the parking lot.
Hammond was traveling with Dominic Pritchard, 27, and Danielle Yiesley, 38, in the truck.
The police chief said the vehicle got stuck in the fencing for a brief period then sped off east on Central Avenue.
An officer found the vehicle unoccupied on Garnet Court and witnesses said the individuals had ran off running on foot.
A perimeter was established with help from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and Oregon State Police and a K9 unit was deployed.
Mills said, Yiesley was the owner of the vehicle and she reported it stolen during the investigation.
The three subjects were tracked to Yiesley’s home by the K9 unit. When officers arrived, they found Yiesley and Pritchard attempting to leave in a passenger vehicle. The two were taken into custody.
Officers searched Yiesley’s residence and found Hammond hiding in the attic. He was detained without incident and charged.
Pritchard and Yiesley face charges of hindering prosecution. Yiesley was also charged with making a false report.
Mills said the damage to the fence and gates was estimated to be over $20,000.
If you have been accused of a DUI, contact a Portland DUI lawyer for assistance.
Source: https://kqennewsradio.com/2020/03/16/three-arrested-after-vehicle-crashes-into-police-station/