Pursuit of speeding, reckless driver who hit patrol car, missed several other vehicles ends in Bend man’s arrest
Barney Lerten
(Update: DCSO clarifies some details of events)
SUNRIVER, Ore. (KTVZ) — A pursuit of a reckless driver that began in Bend ended in Sunriver Tuesday morning in the arrest of a Bend man who Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies said drove recklessly through several communities, struck a patrol car and endangered both the public and law enforcement.
Matthew James Hammer, 40, who apparently had just appeared in court Tuesday morning on reckless driving and other charges, now faces several new charges, including attempted assault, reckless endangering, criminal mischief and attempting to elude an officer, sheriff’s office Public Information Officer Jason Carr said in a news release Tuesday evening.
Around 9:20 a.m. Tuesday, a deputy assigned to the agency’s main office in downtown Bend saw a black Cadillac Escalade being driven recklessly on the property. When the deputy attempted a traffic stop, the driver — later identified as Hammer — refused to pull over and fled the area, Carr said.
The pursuit was initially discontinued for public safety while law enforcement agencies across the county began searching for the vehicle.
Around 10 a.m., a Sunriver Police sergeant spotted the Escalade traveling southbound on Highway 97 near the Sunriver exit. Carr said Hammer again attempted to elude law enforcement, driving at high speeds, swerving into oncoming traffic and nearly colliding head-on with a patrol vehicle.
Deputies successfully deployed spike strips, deflating two tires, but Hammer continued driving recklessly, Carr said.
As Hammer fled down South Century Drive, Spring River Road and nearby residential streets, he nearly struck several responding officers’ vehicles. He then rammed into a Deschutes County K-9 vehicle, causing damage and minor injuries to the deputy inside. The K-9 was not injured.
Hammer also drove onto private property, striking a parked vehicle while a resident was outside, before returning to the roadway, Carr said.
“As Hammer’s driving continued to endanger the public and law enforcement, deputies re-engaged the vehicle,” Carr wrote in the news release. They discontinued that pursuit a second time, also for public safety concerns, but kept working to coordinate a response to the reckless driver, Carr clarified Wednesday.
A deputy attempted to use a Pursuit Intervention Technique (PIT) controlled maneuver to force the suspect off the road safely. But it turned into a situation of forcing the Escalade off the road with the patrol car’s bumper and onto the highway shoulder, ending the pursuit. Both the suspect’s vehicle and the Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicles were damaged.
Hammer was evaluated at the scene and later at St. Charles Bend before being lodged at the Deschutes County Jail, held without bail pending arraignment on the 17 charges listed below.
Oregon State Police is investigating the crash involving DCSO patrol vehicles, consistent with standard pursuit protocols. The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office thanks the Sunriver Police Department, Oregon State Police, Sunriver Fire Department, and Deschutes County Road Department for their assistance during this incident.
ARRESTED: Matthew Hammer (DOB 9/24/1984)
CHARGES:
Criminal Mischief II – 1 count
Attempted Assault I – 1 count
Attempted Assault on a Public Safety Officer – 3 counts
Recklessly Endangering – 5 counts
Reckless Driving – 3 counts
Attempt to Elude a Police Officer (Felony) – 3 counts
Criminal Mischief I – 1 count
Court records reviewed by KTVZ News show Hammer was arraigned at 9 a.m. Tuesday morning on a felony charge of first-degree criminal mischief and three misdemeanor charges – two counts of recklessly endangering another person and one of reckless driving. He was conditionally released after his arrest late last month and is due back in court for arraignment on an expected indictment on Sept. 18.
District Attorney Steve Gunnels confirmed to us Tuesday’s arraignment and said Hammer was directed by the court to contact his attorney.