ATV Elude, July 23

Oregon State Police (OSP) arrested a 23-year old Cave Junction man Monday evening after the man attempted to elude OSP on a four-wheeler all-terrain vehicle (ATV).  According to Sergeant Brandon Boice, on July 21, 2014 at approximately 6:00 p.m., OSP personnel in marked and unmarked vehicles were in the Cave Junction area when they saw a man operating a green 2004 Artic Cat ATV on Highway 199, popping wheelies and driving in a reckless manner. They tried to stop the ATV but the operator failed to yield and fled at a high rate of speed southbound from Cave Junction, eventually driving onto Blas Cerdena Drive where the ATV operator encountered a dead end. The operator tried fleeing off the road but his path was stopped by fencing and OSP blocked the ATV from fleeing further.  At approximately 6:03 p.m., OSP took the operator, MICHAEL ALAN MURPHY, age 23, into custody without further incident. MURPHY was lodged in the Josephine County Jail for Felony Attempt to Elude on a Vehicle and Reckless Driving. He was also cited for several traffic violations.