A high-speed chase that began and ended in Lincoln County went into the Philomath city limits for a short time Saturday, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office reported.
The driver, 33-year-old Gregory Noll of Vancouver, Washington, was heading east on Highway 20 when deputies at around 1:11 p.m. spotted his dark-colored minivan driving recklessly at a high rate of speed near the Crystal Creek Loop in Eddyville.
The driver initially pulled over.
“The driver of the vehicle immediately exited and was uncooperative and refused to follow the deputy’s commands,” LCSO reported in a news release. “The deputy deployed a Taser, which struck the driver but was ineffective. The driver returned to his vehicle and fled from the deputy east on Highway 20.”
The deputy pursued the vehicle east to the Lincoln County line and into Benton County.
“Multiple times during the pursuit the driver was observed throwing items from his vehicle,” LCSO said. “Spike strips were deployed several times, but the driver swerved around them.”
Benton County Sheriff’s Office deputies took over the pursuit as the vehicle continued to flee east into Philomath. The vehicle turned around and then fled west on Highway 20 back toward Lincoln County.
LCSO took over the pursuit and the vehicle continued to attempt to elude deputies.
“The vehicle’s tires were eventually deflated by a spike strip deployed at Highway 20 and Pioneer Mountain Loop by a sergeant with the Oregon State Police,” LCSO reported.
Noll was taken into custody and after medical clearance at Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital in Newport, was taken to Lincoln County Jail.
Charges against Noll include reckless driving, attempt to elude, driving under the influence of intoxicants, reckless endangering, interfering with a police officer and offensive littering.
No injuries to the suspect or officers were reported.
LCSO thanked several agencies for assisting, including the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon State Police, Newport Police Department and the Toledo Police Department.