LCSO CASE #22-1811 — FLEEING SUSPECT RAMS DEPUTY’S PATROL CAR, DISABLING IT AND CAUSING INJURY TO THE DEPUTY

*UPDATE*

Suspect that rammed deputy’s patrol car identified and taken into custody

Investigators from the Lane County Sheriff’s Office and Eugene Police Department have been working together to identify the suspect that caused injury to a deputy last week by ramming his patrol car. 

Last week a Lane County Sheriff’s deputy attempted to stop a vehicle in the Elmira area for traffic violations at which time the vehicle fled at a high rate of speed.  At one point the vehicle accelerated into the direction of the deputy’s patrol car, causing a crash.  The impact disabled the patrol car and caused an injury to the deputy’s shoulder.  The suspect sped away and abandoned his vehicle at an apartment complex in Eugene a short time later.

Deputies and Eugene police officers worked many leads and were able to identify the suspect as 28 year old Dakota Dale Stover of Eugene. Stover had arrest warrants out of the Eugene Police Department and Oregon State Parole Board at the time he fled the deputy.  Additionally his driver’s license was suspended at a criminal level.

Investigators located Stover on Wednesday afternoon in the area of W. 8^th Ave. and Lawrence St. in Eugene.  He fled when officers attempted to contact him, but he was quickly found hiding in a nearby garage.  Stover had kicked down a door and made entry into a residential garage while attempting to hide from officers. 

Stover is currently lodged at the Lane County Jail on charges related to the initial pursuit incident and new crimes committed on the day he was taken into custody.  Charges include but are not limited to:  Assault on a Public Safety Officer, Elude by Vehicle, Hit and Run, Reckless Endangering, Criminal Mischief, burglary and Unlawful Use of a Weapon.     

This case is just one example of the partnership between the Lane County Sheriff’s Office and Eugene Police Department. Investigators from both agencies came together to identify this suspect and take him into custody.

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A Lane County Sheriff’s deputy attempting to stop a vehicle for traffic violations was injured Sunday night after a suspect used his vehicle to ram the deputy’s patrol vehicle. 

Shortly after 9:00pm, a deputy observed a vehicle on Territorial Hwy. near Hwy. 126 driving without a front license plate. After passing by the deputy, the vehicle accelerated to approximately 80mph and began passing unsafely in a no passing area.  At one point the vehicle turned around and started driving back towards Hwy. 126 to which the deputy followed with lights and siren activated. 

Near the intersection of Hwy. 126 the suspect stopped his vehicle and turned it into the direction of the pursuing patrol car. The suspect accelerated and smashed into the front of the patrol car, disabling the patrol car and injuring the deputy’s shoulder.  The suspect then sped away eastbound on Hwy. 126.  A short time later, Eugene Police Officers located the suspect vehicle unoccupied at an apartment complex in the 1300blk of Oak Patch Rd. 

The deputy in this incident is recovering from his injury. Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the Lane County Sheriff’s Office at 541-682-4150 opt. 1.