UPDATED: See who police accuse of stealing and driving this car — and why he’s free to walk outer East Portland streets right now. STARTLING NEW DEVELOPMENT! See why police call this accused car thief “unlucky”—they pinched while driving another allegedly stolen car a week later …
SE Division Street is blocked off, after a red sports car – the police say it was stolen – crashed after being driven recklessly.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
Alert Portland Police Bureau (PPB) officers assigned to East Precinct’s Neighborhood Response Team were keeping an eye out for trouble in outer East Portland, just before 2:00 p.m., as they were cruising near SE 145th Avenue and SE Division St. on March 9.
When they spotted a customized, “tuned” red Mazda MX6, the officers “ran the plates” on their computer – and realized they’d found it. The car came back as having been reported stolen.
Portland Fire & Rescue squads rush into action to rescue the man, trapped in the car, who police say they think was the driver.
Firefighter paramedics crawl into the destroyed car to free the man still trapped inside.
“At 1:46 p.m., the suspect car drove from SE 145th Avenue to 135th Avenue before it began attempting to elude the officers,” reported PPB Public Information Officer Lt. Robert King.
“At about SE 135th Avenue, officers broadcast that the car was taking off and they began to pursue it. Moments later, however, an East Precinct Patrol Supervisor broadcast on the Police radio, telling the officers to terminate the pursuit,” King told East Portland News.
Listening to the events unfold on the police band radio, we did hear the officers promptly acknowledge that they’d stopped their chase of the stolen yet snappy sports car. Mere moments later, we heard the postscript: “It wrecked”.
Members of the PPB Traffic Division Major Crash Team begin taking measurements and documenting the crash scene.
Had the occupants realized their pursuers had already stopped the chase, they might have been able to get away with the stolen car.
“At about SE 125th and Division,” King said, “the stolen car sideswiped another car, and then hit a telephone pole, and flipped on its top.”
When we arrived on-scene a short time later, a member of the Portland Police Bureau command staff verified for us that the pursuit had been called off before the crash; and that there were three individuals in that now-upside-down car, and all had survived the crash.
Eyewitness Gina told East Portland News that “The police car lights were flashing; they were on. I was standing [about a block east] by the Taco Bell.”
She continued, “Cops were chasing the red car; going really, really fast. There was fire coming off the wheels of the red car. Then, all of a sudden, the car flipped up into the air, turned over, and went into the pole.”
A firefighter packs up gear used to extricate the trapped driver.
Asked about this account, King responded, “As soon as the officers saw the crash happening in front of them, as they pulled up to the crash and turned on their lights to protect the crash scene, and they called for Portland Fire and Rescue and an AMR ambulance.”
Another witness, Ellen Donohue, said she watched as two “grown up” women got out of the pancaked car on their own. “But it took a while [for firefighters] to get the guy out.”
Witnesses say they’re amazed that anyone survived the crash – and, in fact, were able to walk away from it.
King confirmed, “The stolen car was being driven by an adult man, and there were two adult women in the car as well. The names have not been released at this time. All three are suffering from non-life-threatening injuries.”
The driver of the car that had been sideswiped by the stolen car was uninjured, King added.
Authorities say this man, 23-year-old Jared Allen Jones, was arrested on a dozen charges related to this incident. MCDC booking photo
UPDATE: Driver of allegedly stolen car named
23-year-old Jared Allen Jones was identified as the driver of the 1991 Mazda MX-6 that led officers on a short pursuit before crashing the car, Lt. Robert King announced on March 13.
According to MCDC records, Jones was officially arrested on March 9 at 1:46 PM, but not booked into jail until 8:10 PM, after receiving medical treatment.
“Jones was arrested and charged Assault in the Third Degree (2 counts), Criminal Mischief in the First Degree (4 counts), Unlawful Use of a Motor Vehicle, Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle, Reckless Endangerment, Attempting to Elude in a Vehicle, Reckless Driving, and Driving While Suspended,” King reported. “The passengers, 22-year-old Jacklynn Marie Jones and 43-year-old Deanne Melonie Hager, were not charged.”
Records show that the suspect as released the following day, March 10, on a “Pre-Trial Supervision Program” – which means Jared Allen Jones is again walking outer East Portland streets.
Meet “Mr. Unlucky”
-8 Just a week after allegedly stealing a car on March 11, attempting to elude officers before crashing and flipping it, 23-year-old Jared Allen Jones finds himself again accused of the same crime – but in a different car. NEW MCDC booking photo
Alarmingly to outer East Portland residents, the “Pre-Trial Supervision Program” to which 23-year-old Jared Allen Jones was assigned after the March 11 incident did little to keep the community safe.
Police referred to him as “unlucky” when they reported that, at 12:28 a.m., on March 17, Jones appeared to be again plying his trade. “[He] attempted to elude officers in a stolen car in the area of SE 123rd Avenue and Division Street,” reported Sgt. Simpson.
“Jones attempted to speed away from the officer who quickly used a Pursuit Intervention Technique maneuver to spin the stolen car causing it to stop. Jones was then arrested.”
According to MCDC records, Jones has been booked into the Multnomah County Jail on charges of Unlawful Use of a Motor Vehicle, Attempt to Elude, Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle, Reckless Driving, Driving While Revoked, and Reckless Endangerment. His bail is set at $22,500.
While records he remains in custody at the time of this writing, with our criminal justice system operating the way it does, Jones will likely be release into our community – again – to potentially endanger citizens.
© 2012 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News
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