EPD Chase Ends with Arrests, Officer Injured in Lane County
On November 14 an attempted traffic stop near Valley River Center escalated into a multi unit pursuit that ended with three patrol cars damaged, one officer treated for non life threatening injuries, and three people detained. The incident disrupted Game Day traffic on MLK Jr. Boulevard and remains under active investigation, with charges pending.
On Friday afternoon, November 14 at about 3:05 p.m. an officer with the Eugene Police Department attempted to stop a Ford F 150 near Valley River Center for reckless driving. The driver failed to yield and a multiple unit pursuit followed through neighborhoods and busy arterials before ending later that afternoon.
Two EPD patrol vehicles were damaged during the early part of the incident near Club Road and Cedarwood Drive. An officer sustained non life threatening injuries in that exchange and was treated at a local hospital. The suspect vehicle continued east toward MLK Jr. Boulevard where heavy Game Day traffic complicated the response and increased risk to motorists and pedestrians.
At one point a passenger exited the moving vehicle and fled on foot. That person was detained after a foot pursuit. Officers then conducted a forcible stop near MLK Jr. Boulevard and Garden Way, during which a third EPD patrol vehicle was damaged. A 46 year old driver and a second passenger were detained at the scene. The department said the incident remained under active investigation and that charges were pending.
The Eugene Police Department release included two case numbers for reference, listed as case numbers 25 18523 and 25 18527, and thanked the public for patience during traffic disruptions. Officials did not provide additional public comment about the nature of the alleged reckless driving or the specific charges being considered.
For Lane County residents the episode underlines the intersection of law enforcement activity and local life, particularly on days that draw extra traffic to the area. The chase moved through corridors that serve shoppers at Valley River Center and commuters using MLK Jr. Boulevard, and it occurred during a time when vehicle and foot traffic were heavier than usual because of Game Day events. That combination led to temporary road slowdowns and may prompt questions from residents about pursuit policies and safeguards used by police to protect bystanders.
The investigation remains ongoing. The department has recorded the incident formally and will pursue charges as the review proceeds. Local drivers and pedestrians can expect periodic traffic enforcement and occasional disruptions tied to police activity, and may continue to see communications from EPD when incidents affect major routes.
