Smith River Road Pursuit, March 27

On Thursday, March 23, 2017, around 2:30 p.m., a deputy in the Reedsport area overheard Oregon State Police looking for a stolen silver Volvo from the Lane County area. A short time later, the deputy spotted the vehicle on Lower Smith River Road near mile marker 7. The deputy confirmed the vehicle was stolen and attempted to make a traffic stop, however the driver failed to yeild. The deputy pursued the vehicle at varying speeds averaging 45-55 miles per hour. The driver of the stolen vehicle eventually stopped when she encountered downed trees on a gravel road and was unable to go any further. The deputy was able to take the suspect, 48 year old Bobbie Pruett a transient from the Florence area, into custody without incident. Pruett was lodged at the Douglas County Jail on charges of Unauthorized use of a Motor Vehicle and Attempting to Elude Police in a Vehicle.