Finally, this unlicensed driver is behind bars – but not for driving without a license. Find out why she’s in jail now … and see our exclusive photos …
The never-licensed driver of this car wasn’t about to stop – until cops flattened her car’s tires.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
After an alleged shoplifting spree at a Beaverton Marshalls store, about 6:20 p.m. on August 20, the driver of the red import sedan takes off from the parking lot, trying to ditch the local police.
She’s seen weaving through traffic on Highway 217 before Beaverton officers lose sight of the car, and put out a regional broadcast to Portland- area jurisdictions. A sharp-eyed Portland Police Bureau Central Precinct cop spots the car coming through Portland on I-5.
The officer follows it north on I-5, then east on I-84, then south from the NE 68th Avenue exit – as the driver cuts through Roseway, Madison South and Montavilla neighborhoods.
Pursuit allowed to continue
“Because the car remained on lightly-traveled surface streets in outer East Portland, and was not traveling at excessive speeds, supervisors allowed the pursuit to continue,” says Portland Police Bureau spokesman Sgt. Brian Schmautz.
Although the cops flatten three of the car’s four tires using a spike strip at SE Washington Street and SE 92nd Avenue, the driver doesn’t stop. Only when a patrol car bumps the wobbling car into a curb at SE 92nd Avenue and Clay Street, using the “Pursuit Intervention Technique”, does the car finally grind to a halt.
Officers sort out clothing and other articles they suspect were stolen from the Marshalls store in Beaverton.
Find stolen booty … and a baby
Two females are taken into custody. But, as officers begin to search the car, they find more than just the allegedly-stolen merchandise.
Officers are surprised to find a three-year-old baby loosely seat-belted in the back seat of the car – not in a child’s car seat. At the scene, we hear a sergeant remark that officers couldn’t see the child in the back seat during the chase.
Cops check on the 3-year-old, who was in the back seat of the fleeing car. There were no injuries in this incident.
The driver of the car is identified as 24-year-old Kendrareen Hudson. She tells cops she lives in Beaverton; records indicate Hudson is a Salem resident.
Driver never licensed, but often ticketed
Authorities say Hudson hasn’t ever had a driver’s license. But that hasn’t stopped her from driving. She’s been cited 43 times for driving without a license – many times in Portland.
Further, on 17 occasions, Hudson failed to appear in court for these tickets.
Multnomah County Detention Center indicated that Hudson was in custody on several occasions, charged with crimes including theft and assault.
Cops say the statutes prevent putting
chronically-unlicensed drivers, such as
Kendrareen Hudson, behind bars.
Finally, off the roads
Although Hudson has walked away from many of her crimes without any jail time, she’s currently being held in the Washington County Jail because one of her charges, “Attempting to Elude a Police Officer”, is a felony.
“She was also charged with one count of Reckless Driving, and multiple counts of Reckless Endangerment,” reported Schmautz.
The 16-year-old passenger was turned over to Beaverton Police; the 3-year-old was taken into state custody.
© 2007 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News Service
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