January 25, 2024 1:40 p.m.
Thursday morning the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office arrested a man following a lengthy manhunt after he allegedly eluded police following a traffic stop on Wednesday night.
Lieutenant Brad O’Dell said at 9:00 a.m. deputies received information that a man matching the description of 47-year old Billy Best of Astoria had been seen in the Sutherlin area. O’Dell said a deputy observed the man wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and called for additional resources to assist in apprehending him.
Shortly before 10:00 a.m. deputies located Best and took him into custody without incident. He was charged with attempting to elude police in a vehicle and on foot, reckless driving, recklessly endangering and for warrants. He was detained on $75,000 bail.
Best’s apprehension came around 17 hours after the situation began. O’Dell said shortly after 5:00 p.m. a deputy attempted to stop a sedan in the 800 block of John Long Road at Rice Hill. The vehicle allegedly took off at a high rate of speed. It was pursued to the 2000 block of the road, north of Oakland. The sedan then got onto the freeway and headed southbound. An officer from the Sutherlin Police was able to successfully deploy spike strips on the eluding vehicle. The chase continued to the Sutherlin hill where the vehicle crashed into a ditch.
O’Dell said a man, later identified as Best, reportedly jumped out and ran. The deputy started to chase him and saw what looked to be a black handgun in Best’s hand. The deputy went back and detained a female that was in the vehicle. The 46-year old was taken into custody and charged with unlawful possession of methamphetamine.
O’Dell said a K9 track was started. Nearby residents to the west were alerted by reverse 911 that law enforcement was seeking the man. After hours of looking, deputies were unable to locate Best. Early Thursday morning, DCSO put out a bulletin detailing the case and seeking help from the public in locating the suspect.
DCSO thanked the Sutherlin community, the Sutherlin Police Department and the Oregon State Police for their assistance in taking Best into custody.