Woman Held For Mental Evaluation After Police Chase Ending in West Salem (PHOTOS)

At 9:58 a.m. troopers took the woman into custody and subsequently transported her to Salem Hospital for a mental evaluation.

Photos courtesy: Oregon State Police

(SALEM, Ore.) - Police say a 23-year old woman is being held for a mental evaluation after she was forced to a stop with the "help" of spike strips and police vehicles in West Salem.

Lieutenant Gregg Hastings with Oregon State Police says OSP and the Polk County Sheriff's Office, received multiple driving complaints over a 2001 Toyota pickup in the area of Highway 18 and Highway 22.

"At approximately 9:47 a.m. the pickup occupied by two people was spotted by a Polk County deputy eastbound on Highway 22 near milepost 16. A vehicle license check indicated the pickup was associated with a woman not taking medication who was reported missing to Eugene police February 26th," Hastings said.

"An OSP trooper moved into position to stop the pickup and upon activating overhead emergency lights, the pickup sped up and attempted to elude eastbound at speeds reaching 85 mph."

Hastings says Salem area OSP troopers and Salem police moved into position to assist as the pickup headed eastbound toward Salem as officers set up spike strips at three different locations.

"The pickup drove over the last two deployments causing the left tires to deflate. The pickup turned off Highway 22 onto Edgewater Street NW and Wallace Road where it pulled into a gas station," Hastings reported.

"As the pickup was traveling at a slow rate of speed, an OSP trooper deployed a tactical vehicle intervention technique to force the pickup to a stop."

At 9:58 a.m. troopers took the woman into custody and subsequently transported her to Salem Hospital for a mental evaluation. She was positively identified as the woman reported missing to Eugene police.

Her name is withheld pending the hospital evaluation and decision on enforcement action.

The male passenger turned out to be a hitchhiker. He was released following the on-scene investigation.