Five-agency police chase spans Idaho, Oregon before man is arrested near Ontario
A high-speed pursuit Monday that started in Idaho ended in Oregon and involved several police departments before a man with an active warrant was arrested.
Police arrested John Stramagila, a 20-year-old Lewiston man, after a car chase began in Washington County and ended outside of Ontario, according to a news release from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. Stramagila has an outstanding warrant in Idaho, which Washington County Sheriff Matt Thomas said was for failing to appear.
The chase began just before 6:30 p.m. Monday outside of Midvale, going south on U.S. 95. Speeds reached around 100 mph as Stramagila and Washington County deputies continued south toward Weiser, the release said. Before reaching the town, Weiser police officers set up spike strips to try to stop the car. The strips damaged only the front driver’s-side tire. Stramagila then took a turn onto Indianhead Road, police said.
On that road a Washington County deputy tried to get in front of the vehicle, but Stramagila abruptly turned and hit the patrol car, according to police. Stramagila drove through Weiser and toward Oregon.
Before reaching Oregon, another patrol car tried to get in front of Stramagila. A Weiser police officer sped up before Stramagila hit that patrol car on the front passenger side, and he continued driving into Oregon.
As Stramagila drove south on Oregon 201, Oregon State Police joined the chase. Soon after, Stramagila’s car was again spiked, this time by Malheur County deputies. The strip damaged one back tire, but the vehicle kept going, authorities said. Malheur deputies and Ontario police officers joined the chase.
The car eventually stopped just outside of Ontario, where Stramagila was arrested without incident, according to police. A passenger in the car was not charged.
Stramagila was booked into the Malheur County Jail shortly thereafter on one count of felony evading and the Idaho warrant.
Thomas said Tuesday that no officers were injured during the chase, but the two cars were damaged in the crashes.
This story was originally published May 5, 2020 at 2:22 PM.
