CLACKAMAS: Stabbing Victim Taken by Lifeflight

The victim of the stabbing, 33-year old Matthew Savage of Beavercreek, Oregon, was known by the suspect. He was taken by LifeFlight to an area hospital.

Tara Axmaker in a booking photo, courtesy: Clackamas Sheriff

(CLACKAMAS, OR) - Deputies from the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office were called out over a reported stabbing this morning at about 1:00 a.m., in the 16800 block of South Howards Mill Road.

Several minutes later, another arriving deputy noticed a patrol car driving away from the location at a high rate of speed with no lights on. A brief radio conversation confirmed the patrol car had been stolen and the deputy pursued the stolen vehicle.

The pursuit ended when the suspect lost control of the vehicle and crashed near the intersection of Highway 213 and Molalla Road near Molalla, Oregon.

The suspect has been identified as 25-year old Tara Axmaker of Milwaukie, OR. She was not injured in the crash and was taken into custody. Initial charges are Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle and Attempt to Elude-Felony. Further charges are possible.

The victim of the stabbing, 33-year old Matthew Savage of Beavercreek, Oregon, was known by the suspect. He was taken by LifeFlight to an area hospital. At last check his condition was listed as fair.

The incident remains under investigation by Clackamas County Sheriff's Office detectives. No further information is available for release at this time.

Assistance was provided by the Molalla Police Department and the Oregon State Police.

The motive for this attempted murder is still being investigated. Investigators say the use of methamphetamines by the suspect plays a significant role.

Tara Axmaker, age 25, with an updated address of Clackamas, is at the Clackamas County Jail on the charges of Attempted Murder, Aggravated Theft I, Attempted Assault on a Public Safety Officer, Eluding a Police Officer, Reckless Driving, and a Parole Violation Warrant. There is no bail at this time.

Axmaker is scheduled for a first appearance on March 18, 2013 at 3:00 pm in Clackamas County Circuit Court.

The booking photo of the suspect is from a March 2013 jail sentence.

Source: Clackamas County Sheriff