Fugitive Josh Nicholas Captured in Yamhill County

After successfully eluding police, Nicholas was captured hours later at a residence in unincorporated Yamhill County.

Current photo of 36-year old Josh Nicholas Washington County Sheriff

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Officials say a fugitive out of Washington County, 36-year old Josh Nicholas, was captured tonight in rural Yamhill County by investigators who had been looking for him throughout the day.

Sgt. David Thompson with the Washington County Sheriff's Office, says deputies and the US Marshals Oregon Fugitive Task Force tracked Josh Nicholas down, explaining that he is a felon wanted for parole violation warrants.

Nicholas has been wanted for close to a year, Thompson said.

"This morning at about 4:30 a.m., a Cornelius Police Officer spotted Mr. Nicholas driving a stolen Nissan Pathfinder. When the officer tried to stop him a vehicle pursuit ensued."

Thompson says Nicholas eventually drove north of the City of Cornelius and into a farmer's field near NW Susbauer Road and NW Wren Road in unincorporated Washington County, where the SUV he was driving was able to lose the officer.

"The Cornelius Officer was not able to keep up with Mr. Nicholas, because the police car was not able to negotiate the dirt field as well as the stolen Pathfinder that Mr. Nicholas was driving." Deputies from the Washington County Sheriff's Office along with officers from Cornelius Police, Forest Grove Police, Hillsboro Police, and the Portland Police Bureau, surrounded the area.

Thompson said a three hour search ensued, "only to find that the suspect had made it through the field and exited onto a different road prior to officers surrounding the area." This afternoon, Hillsboro Police Officers located the stolen Nissan Pathfinder in a parking lot near West Main Street and NW Western Way in the City of Hillsboro.

"As far a investigators could tell, Mr. Nicholas was not in the immediate area," Thompson said. Then, at 7:45 p.m., A Washington County K9 unit and investigators from the US Marshals Oregon Fugitive Task Force found Mr. Nicholas at a residence located at 25543 SW Garrish Valley Road in unincorporated Yamhill County.

Nicholas was taken into custody, Thompson says he is being held at the Washington County Jail. No further details are being released at this time.