February 22, 2021 12:00 p.m.
Two people were arrested following a police chase on Saturday.
A report from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said at about 10:00 a.m. 38-year old Joshua Martin and 30-year old Jessica Gregory were contacted, sleeping in a vehicle near the corner of John Long Road and Goodrich Highway south of Rice Hill.
The report said drugs were observed in plain view. The occupants were uncooperative and the driver provided someone else’s identification when asked for ID. The report said the vehicle sped off at a high rate of speed and headed north for two miles before cutting across the grass median and heading south. Speeds were between 90 and 120 miles per hour, according to DCSO.
The report said multiple units made unsuccessful attempts to spike strip the car. Two miles north of Winchester the vehicle used the emergency turn area and headed south in a north bound lane at a high rate of speed. The pursuit was terminated but the vehicle continued to head in the wrong direction and bypass multiple points to pull off the freeway.
The report said eventually it turned off the freeway south of Winchester and went down a grassy hill, crashing in an area between the road and the railroad tracks. Martin and Gregory fled and allegedly tried to stop traffic in the 5300 block of Northeast Stephens.
Martin reportedly tried to carjack a pickup. That citizen left the area and did not contact police. DCSO is asking that driver to contact authorities so they can obtain a statement.
Troopers from Oregon State Police assisted and stopped the suspects, taking them into custody.
Martin was charged with felony elude, reckless driving, reckless endangering, identity theft, disorderly conduct and for violating a no contact order. Bail was set at $177,500.
Gregory was allegedly in possession of a backpack which contained powder heroin, tar heroin, a large amount of cash, bear spray and a stolen watch. She was charged with a commercial drug offense, for unlawful possession of meth and heroin and for first degree theft. She was released on Sunday.