– Arrest following lengthy manhunt
– Astoria man eluded law enforcement.

Accident – Death – Obituary News :

Man Arrested Following Lengthy Manhunt After Eluding Police

January 25, 2024 1:40 p.m.

On Thursday morning, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office successfully apprehended a man who had been on the run after evading police during a traffic stop on Wednesday night. The arrest came after an extensive manhunt that lasted for several hours.

Lieutenant Brad O’Dell stated that at 9:00 a.m., deputies received crucial information indicating that a man fitting the description of 47-year-old Billy Best from Astoria had been spotted in the Sutherlin area. Acting promptly, a deputy observed the suspect wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and immediately called for additional resources to assist in his capture.

Shortly before 10:00 a.m., deputies successfully located Best and apprehended him without any resistance. He now faces charges of attempting to elude police both in a vehicle and on foot, as well as charges of recklessly endangering others, reckless driving, and outstanding warrants. Best has been detained on a bail amounting to $75,000.

Best’s capture finally took place around 17 hours after the initial incident occurred. According to O’Dell, the situation unfolded when a deputy attempted to pull over a sedan at around 5:00 p.m. in the 800 block of John Long Road at Rice Hill. However, the vehicle swiftly sped away at a high rate of speed. A pursuit ensued, leading officers to the 2000 block of the road, north of Oakland. The sedan then entered the freeway, heading southbound. Remarkably, an officer from the Sutherlin Police managed to successfully deploy spike strips, deflating the tires of the fleeing vehicle. The chase continued until the vehicle crashed into a ditch on the Sutherlin hill.

As the vehicle came to a halt, O’Dell recounted that Best, the male suspect, immediately jumped out and fled on foot. The pursuing deputy noticed what appeared to be a black handgun in Best’s hand, prompting the deputy to briefly return to the scene and detain a female who had been in the vehicle. The 46-year-old woman was taken into custody and subsequently charged with unlawful possession of methamphetamine.

With Best now on the run, law enforcement initiated a K9 track in an effort to locate him. Nearby residents to the west were alerted through a reverse 911 call, notifying them about the ongoing search. Unfortunately, despite hours of intensive searching, deputies were unable to locate the suspect. In the early hours of Thursday morning, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office issued a bulletin, providing detailed information about the case and requesting the public’s assistance in finding the fugitive.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office expressed their gratitude to the Sutherlin community, the Sutherlin Police Department, and the Oregon State Police for their invaluable assistance in apprehending Billy Best.

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– “arrest made following lengthy manhunt after astoria man eluded law enforcement”
– “astoria man eluded law enforcement during lengthy manhunt”.