Redmond Teen Charged in Attempt to Elude Police and Crash

Police say the suspect fled on foot after the crash but was apprehended by officers.

Photo of Mansfield's car windshield after it crashed into the second ditch: Oregon State Police

(REDMOND, Ore.) - Police say an 18-year old Redmond resident is charged with multiple traffic-related offenses after trying to lose an Oregon State Police trooper in the Redmond area. The chase ended when his car drove into an irrigation ditch and became stuck.

Lt. Greg Hastings with Oregon State Police says the suspect fled on foot but was taken into custody with the help of Redmond police and Deschutes County deputies.

He says it began last night at approximately 8:20 PM when Oregon State Police Trooper Brenden Baird stopped a 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier for a traffic infraction on Highway 97 near milepost 124 at the Yew Avenue.

"As Trooper Baird got out of his patrol car to contact the two occupants, it fled westbound on Yew Avenue where it struck and broke a stop sign at the intersection with S. Canal."

Hastings says the driver, identified as 18-year old Charles A, Mansfield of Redmond continued to attempt to elude the trooper southbound away from Redmond before returning back towards the city.

"At one point the car left a street and jumped over an irrigation ditch causing the airbags to deploy, but it came back onto the roadway and continued attempting to elude."

The car came to a dead-end at a cul-de-sac on Juniper Avenue and drove through what appeared to be a vacant lot, Hastings said, but it drove into an irrigation ditch and became stuck.

Baird said Mansfield fled on foot but was apprehended by Redmond police and Deschutes County deputies. "The suspect's attempt to elude lasted about six minutes and at times his speeds reached near 90 mph" he added.

Mansfield was transported to St. Charles Medical Center in Redmond for treatment of minor injuries he received earlier in the day when he was reportedly assaulted in a separate incident.

Hastings says while being treated at the hospital, Mansfield was cited to appear in Deschutes County Circuit Court for a number of charges including Felony Attempt to Elude in a Vehicle, Misdemeanor Attempt to Elude on Foot, Reckless Driving and Failure to Perform the Duties of a Driver Involved in a Crash. He says additional charges may be pending.