High-speed police chase ends along Interstate 5 with Salem's man arrest
Ben BotkinA Salem man was arrested Wednesday night following a police chase that reached speeds of about 100 mph and ended along the shoulder of southbound Interstate 5 near the Mission Street SE exit.
The driver was heading southbound on Interstate 5 at about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Marion County deputies were in pursuit.
Salem Police Department officers joined in the pursuit and the suspect crashed and fled on foot into Cascade Gateway Park, said Lt. Treven Upkes, spokesman for the Salem Police Department.
The chase was over in a matter of minutes.
Police tracked the suspect with a K9 dog. He was tasered and then taken into custody, Upkes said.
Police arrested Christopher C. Tolbert, 27, of Salem. He was booked into Marion County Jail on charges of attempting to elude police, interfering with a peace officer, resisting arrest, reckless driving and a parole violation, jail records show.
Tolbert is scheduled for a court appearance at 3 p.m. Friday.
Court records show Tolbert had pleaded guilty less than a month ago to unlawful possession of methamphetamine in Marion County. On June 14, he was sentenced to 18 months of probation.
Court records also show Tolbert was charged in 2016 with third-degree robbery and resisting arrest. He was sentenced to 180 days for resisting arrest and the robbery charge was dismissed.
Ben Botkin covers Oregon state government. To support his work, subscribe to the Statesman Journal. You can reach him at bbotkin@StatesmanJournal.com, 503-399-6687 or follow him on Twitter @BenBotkin1.