Escape Escape: Car Thief Eludes Police In Ironically-Named Ford

PORTLAND, OR — An alleged car thief escaped Portland police early Tuesday after crashing his stolen vehicle into a parked car and a police cruiser occupied by two officers, leaving one of the officers with minor injuries.

Just after 5:15 a.m. Feb. 6, officers conducting an unrelated welfare check in the Darlington area found several vehicles that appeared to have been burglarized near Southeast 60th Avenue and Southeast Harvey Street.

Investigating the car clouts, the officers happened upon a Ford Escape occupied by one man. As the officers approached the Ford in their cruiser the man pulled away, crashing into a parked car and the cruiser before fleeing the area. One of the officers sustained minor injuries and the cruiser was disabled in the crash, police said.

Other officers responding to the hit and run found the Ford near Southeast Malden Drive and Southeast Harney Drive, roughly half a mile west of the crash, but the driver had already gone. Police later learned the Ford had been reported stolen earlier.

A K9 unit searched the area but was unable to locate the man, police said.

Anyone with information about this incident, including the car clouts, is encouraged to call the Portland Police Bureau non-emergency line at 503-823-3333.

Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images (Not Actual Suspect Vehicle)