Wig-Wearing Suspect Leads Deputies On Chase Friday

ALOHA, OR — Even though he was wearing a wig to disguise his identity, Kimo Opapo Utuutuvanu was quickly recognized by Washington County deputies after he led them on a high-speed chase through the unincorporated Washington County community of Aloha in an allegedly stolen car early Friday.

Utuutuvanu, 41, was taken to Washington County Jail following his arrest. He is charged with several crimes, including reckless driving and recklessly endangering, possession of a stolen vehicle, assaulting a law enforcement animal, forgery, possession of heroin, and several parole and probation violations.

Along with Utuutuvanu deputies arrested 29-year-old Kaylee Shay Hathaway — Utuutuvanu's passenger in the stolen car — and charged her with two failure to appear violations.

Deputies with the Washington County Sheriff's Office spotted a stolen 2016 Honda Civic traveling near Southwest Baseline Road and Southwest 185th Avenue just after 12:45 a.m. June 1. When the deputies attempted to pull over the driver, however, the Civic sped off at around 90 mph.

Numerous deputies, including two K9 units, followed the Civic for about 11 miles into rural Washington County — even deploying spike strips to pop the Civic's tires — before Utuutuvanu rammed a deputy's cruiser and rolled to a stop on bare rims.

As the Civic came to a stop partially off the roadway in the 19600-block of Southwest Tile Flat Road, 7 miles south of where the pursuit began, Utuutuvanu jumped from the vehicle and took off on foot.

Now recognizing Utuutuvanu under the wig, deputies made chase and used K9 Stark to track down the fleeing suspect — who turned and tried to punch and kick Stark after the K9 caught up to him.

Stark reportedly bit Utuutuvanu before a deputy deployed his taser. Utuutuvanu was then arrested and given medical attention for his bite wounds before he was hauled off to jail.

Both Hathaway and Utuutuvanu have a history of criminal activity in Washington County dating back to 2010, which includes arrests for theft and possession of heroin and methamphetamine.

Images via Washington County Sheriff's Department