May 27, 2024 7:20 a.m.

A Roseburg man was jailed on drug charges and other counts after an alleged elude incident on Thursday.

A Douglas County Sheriff’s Office report said just after 11:45 a.m. a sedan passed a deputy on Highway 99 in Dillard. The deputy observed a traffic violation and when he pulled out behind the vehicle, it reportedly immediately accelerated to a high rate of speed.

The sedan turned right onto Fourth Street as the deputy was still trying to catch up. The deputy said the vehicle was traveling at approximately 70 miles per hour and it was very apparent that the driver was trying to elude. The deputy finally caught up to the sedan as it turned onto Fifth Street from Reston Avenue. When the deputy activated his lights and siren, the vehicle pulled into a driveway on Fifth Street.

The driver, later identified as 57-year-old John Bedford, allegedly bailed out of the sedan and took off running through the backyard. Eventually Bedford was located hiding in an RV by a Winston Police Department officer and K9 Nike. Bedford was taken into custody without incident.

While searching the vehicle, a substantial amount of methamphetamine was reportedly located in plain view. A search warrant for the vehicle was granted and executed. A search of the sedan allegedly revealed three-quarters of a pound of meth, a violation amount of mushrooms, digital scales and other drug paraphernalia.

Bedford was charged with attempting to elude a police officer on foot, unlawful distribution and possession of meth, reckless driving, and for a parole violation. Bail was set at $350,000.