The Rams suspect occupied the police car (Photo)

March 8, 2023 11:47 am

On Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at 1:42 a.m., East Precinct officers were dispatched to the area of Southeast 119th Avenue and Southeast Clinton Street to check on the welfare of a man who was seen slumped in a Ford F350 blue. The concerned member of the community noticed the engine running and knocked on the window, but the man did not respond.

Officers arrived and located the truck. They could see what appeared to be a gun in the center console and drug paraphernalia nearby. In order to decrease the chances of the driver driving in a possibly impaired condition, officers placed spike strips under the truck’s tires. Officers then used sirens, horns and a public address system to wake the man, but were unsuccessful. The driver woke up and noticed several police cars behind him. He immediately began driving south on 119th Avenue at a high rate of speed. However, the spike strips were effective in deflating the truck’s tires.

Despite having several flat tires, the truck driver continued southbound on 119th Avenue, failing to stop at a stop sign at Powell Boulevard, and crashed head-on into a parked, but occupied, police vehicle. The two officers inside suffered minor injuries. Based on the position of the police vehicle and the trajectory of the truck, officers believe the truck may have driven into the side of a nearby house, where a child was sleeping.

Upon impact, the truck driver fled on foot. Officers set up a perimeter and approximately 20 minutes later, the suspect was safely taken into custody. Upon inspection, officers learned that the F350 was stolen from Vancouver, WA. The suspect is identified as 42-year-old Jeremiah Lee Prueitt. Prueitt was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center and is charged with:

– Illegal use of a motor vehicle
– Possession of a stolen motor vehicle
– Having a loaded firearm
– Illegal possession of a firearm
– Criminal in possession of a firearm
– Attempt to evade in a vehicle
– Reckless driving (two counts)
– Interfere with a peace officer
– Attempt to evade on foot
– Failure to fulfill the duty of a driver (Hit & Run)

“This is one more example of the dangers our officers face on a daily basis,” Chief Charles Lovell said. “I am thankful that these two officers were not more seriously injured and for all of the officers’ efforts to get this dangerous individual off the streets.”

Photo: gun on the console
Photo: Crashed truck
Photo: Truck on the police SUV

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