Medford man arrested after high speed chase

Tribune-Phonograph

The Colby/Abbotsford Police Department arrested a 40-year-old Medford man after he led police on a highspeed chase on Hwy. 13 on Nov. 11.

According to the police report, an officer was on patrol at around 11 p.m. on Spruce Street in Abbotsford when he observed a vehicle rapidly accelerate and rev its engine as the officer passed by. The officer turned to follow the Red Dodge Avenger as it approached North Fourth Avenue. The vehicle did not stop for the stop sign on North Fourth Ave. and proceeded to drive back onto Spruce Street from North First Ave. while traveling at a high rate of speed.

The officers activated their emergency lights and reached speeds of 70 mph while still driving in Abbotsford. The vehicle then turned onto Hwy. 13 and traveled northbound while the officer was still in pursuit. The vehicle, driven by Aaron Black of Medford, traveled north on Hwy. 13 and reached speeds above 100 miles per hour according to the report.

One of the officers traveled 123 mph and caught up to the vehicle and was able to obtain a license plate number for dispatch who confirmed that Black was the owner of the vehicle.

While the first officer approached Stetsonville, he noticed road conditions decreased as there was a slight layer of sleet on the road.

The officer briefly lost sight of the vehicle as it turned onto County Road A. The vehicle made a series of turns in Stetsonville and then again traveled north on Hwy. 13. At this time, the officer decreased his speed due to road conditions as the vehicle sped off.

A Medford Police Officer and Taylor County Sheriff’s Officer attempted to deploy spike strips but they were either not deployed in time, or the vehicle missed the spike strips as it traveled into Medford. Four officers including two CAPD officers then traveled to a mobile home court in Medford to an address where Black was understood to be living. A Clark County Sheriff’s Officer joined the other officers at the residence.

The officers entered the mobile home court with extinguished headlights and found Black’s Red Dodge Avenger parked in the driveway. The officers attempted to make contact with Black as they asked him to come out of the residence and show them his hands. A Medford officer made contact with a woman who was living at the residence and she let the officers inside.

The officers located Black in a bedroom, laying between the wall and the bed. Black was breathing but not responsive to the officers’ questions. A Clark County Officer and Taylor County Officer gave Black two doses of Narcan before EMS personnel arrived. Black was transported to Aspirus Medford Hospital and the CAPD officer agreed to stay with him until he woke up.

The officer requested charges of fleeing from an officer as well as issued citations for exceeding speed zones (45+ mph), failure to stop at a stop sign and operating left of center.