Police use spike strips to prevent high-speed pursuit of stolen vehicle

An off-duty Newport police officer and two Oregon State Troopers assisted in the recovery of a stolen vehicle from the Lincoln City area on July 27. The highway was closed for 10 minutes during the incident.

The vehicle, a 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, had been reported stolen from a Lincoln City residence around 6:30 a.m. that morning. At 7:32 p.m., that evening, Newport Police Officer Barry Macy was off-duty when he reported that he was following the vehicle northbound on Highway 101.

Oregon State Police Senior Trooper Bryan Fitch and Sgt. Cari Boyd were patrolling near Cape Foulweather when they heard the broadcast about the vehicle and at 7:35 p.m., they spotted the Cobalt. Senior Trooper Fitch laid spike strips at the Spencer Creek Bridge to prevent a high speed chase during high summer traffic through Depoe Bay.

When the vehicle crossed over the spike strips, the right front and rear tires deflated. The driver, identified as Kristina R. Escalderon, 23, of Lincoln City, pulled over to the northbound shoulder and stopped. She did not flee.

After Lincoln County Sheriff’s deputies and several Newport Police officers arrived, Escalderon was arrested and taken to the Lincoln County Jail. She was lodged on charges of Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle and Theft I. Her bail is set at $50,000. Her arraignment was scheduled for 1:15 p.m. on July 30.





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