Prolific Criminal Arrested Again In Multnomah County: Police

PORTLAND, OR — A Gresham man with a prolific criminal history in Multnomah County was arrested in Portland Wednesday after officers caught him driving an allegedly stolen car.

Michael Thomas Lovett, 39, was taken to Multnomah County Jail. He is charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle, attempting to elude police, and unlawful possession of methamphetamine. His bail is set at $15,000.

A regular offender in Multnomah County, according to court records, Lovett was reportedly spotted by North Precinct officers around North Vancouver Way and Northeast Sixth Drive, off Northeast Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, at about 10 p.m. May 9.

Recognizing the car Lovett was driving as stolen, the officers reportedly pulled behind the vehicle in preparation for a traffic stop. Lovett, seeing the police cruiser, chose instead to flee, authorities said.

A Portland Police Bureau helicopter assisted officers on the ground as law enforcement tracked Lovett's egress.

Lovett eventually gave up the chase abandoned the stolen car in the parking lot at Portland Meadows, not far from where he was originally spotted.

Continuing to follow Lovett, the PPB helicopter reported the direction of Lovett's attempted escape and, combined with a K9 unit track, ultimately found Lovett hiding on the Portland Meadows property — where he was arrested.

This is Lovett's third arrest this year and his sixth charge for possession of meth since 2006.

Image via Portland Police Bureau