November 6, 2012
Lieutenant Gregg Hastings
Public Information Officer
(503) 731-3020 ext 247
gregg.hastings@state.or.us
Photograph links valid 30 days - Sources:
Warm Springs Tribal Police Department
On November 5, 2012 at approximately 10:20 a.m., an OSP senior trooper stopped a 1992 Chevrolet pickup displaying Oregon license plates westbound on Highway 26 near milepost 58 for a speed violation. The vehicle was occupied by an adult male driver and adult female passenger, both Native Americans. During the stop, the driver refused to identify himself and when advised he was under arrest he fled in the pickup which was confirmed as a stolen vehicle from the Madras area earlier that morning.
The pickup attempted to elude the trooper northbound on Highway 35 until the Mt. Hood Meadows junction where it turned around southbound back to Highway 26. The pickup then headed eastbound on Highway 26 at speeds up to 85 mph.
Warm Springs Tribal Police Department was notified and set up to deploy spike strips west of Warm Springs. The pickup avoided the spike strips and then turned off Highway 26 onto Mill Creek/B140 Road, a gravel/dirt road. WSPD then took over the lead position with assistance from an OSP Fish & Wildlife Division trooper and the trooper involved in the original traffic stop.
About five miles off Highway 26 at approximately 11:15 a.m., the pickup tried to travel across Shitike Creek but couldn't traverse through the water because of its depth and current. The male driver and female passenger fled from the pickup as it stopped in the water. An OSP trooper overtook and detained the female passenger, but the male driver avoided capture after an area search. The passenger was not arrested and the investigation is continuing.
Subsequent investigation led by WSPD has identified the driver as GUNNER JOHNSON BAILEY SR, age 25. BAILEY is a Warm Springs-area resident known to previously carry weapons. He is described as 5'10", medium build, black hair and brown eyes, with numerous tattoos including a feather on the left side of his face near his eye and the word "Mandy" on the right side of his neck.
Anyone with information to help locate BAILEY is asked to contact WSPD at (541) 553-1171.