October 13, 2022 10:20 a.m.
Two people were jailed, with one of them facing 51 charges, after police pursuits on Wednesday afternoon.
A Douglas County Sheriff’s Office report said the situation began at 4:30 p.m. when a deputy attempted to stop a sedan on Highway 99 between Sutherlin and Oakland. 29-year old Billy Wells allegedly attempted to elude authorities by swerving at oncoming vehicles and entering Interstate 5, traveling in the wrong direction. The first pursuit was terminated but a second one began soon after when a deputy located Wells exiting the freeway via the Oakland interchange northbound on-ramp. This chase went out Stearns Lane, over the Rochester Bridge and the Rolling Bridge and then onto Highway 138W. Wells successfully flipped a u turn on the highway and tried to head on a DCSO patrol vehicle and a Sutherlin unit. He was successful in striking the SPD vehicle.
The report said Wells then turned into a private property and continued out into the timber where he bailed out of the car and ran on foot back toward the residence. A .22 caliber rifle was found in the sedan. The passenger, 31-year old Patty Bever was detained. Wells then got into a pickup and tried to drive away but he eventually crashed into a ditch and again fled on foot. Wells ran towards deputies and K9 Eros when confronted, and surrendered.
Wells was medically evaluated at CHI Mercy Medical Center before being transported to jail. He was charged with 8 counts of reckless endangering, 2 counts each of attempt to elude and reckless driving, possession of a stolen vehicle, being a felon in possession of a firearm, 2 counts of a felony charge of driving while revoked, attempting to elude on foot, 5 felony warrants and 9 misdemeanor warrants. Other charges were added later. Wells was detained without bail.
Bever was charged with second-degree disorderly conduct, misuse of 911 and for initiating a false report, from a previous case. She was held on $8,750 bail but was released later that evening.
Both vehicles were impounded by the Oregon State Police on a separate case. The police pursuits lasted for about 45 minutes.