Man arrested after leading Keizer officers on pursuit

Keizer police say a man led officers on a pursuit in a stolen car Wednesday morning.

According to police, a motorcycle officer tried stopping a driver in a green Subaru Legacy near the intersection of 7th Avenue Northeast and Faymar Drive at around 11:30 a.m.

Police said the driver quickly sped away. He later made a U-turn in a cul-de-sac and sped directly toward the officer. The officer had to drive off the road to avoid a crash.

Other officers joined the pursuit and the driver led them outside of Keizer.

A Gervais police officer deployed spike strips near the intersection of Howell Prairie Road and the Mt. Angel/Gervais Highway. The pursuit ended near 12900 Howell Prairie Road when the suspect drove through a ditch, exited the car, and tried running away.

Keizer police and Marion County Sheriff's Office deputies caught the suspect, 25-year-old Christopher Matthew Levi Benzel, of Vernonia, about 100 yards from the car.

Police said the Subaru Benzel was driving was reported stolen by a Woodburn resident in March. The vehicle was damaged in the crash and was towed from the scene.

Benzel was evaluated at Salem Health and was then lodged in the Marion County Jail on charges of attempt to elude in a vehicle, attempt to elude on foot, attempted first-degree assault, first-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving, reckless endangering, unlawful use of a vehicle, unlawful possession of heroin, and an outstanding warrant. His bail was set at $85,000.