Oregon State Police is continuing the investigation into a Sunday afternoon incident in the Salem area that resulted in the arrest of a man for multiple crimes.
Just after 4:00pm on Sunday January 27, the Oregon State Police dispatch was notified of a driving complaint on Interstate 5 Northbound in the Albany area. The reporting party advised of a U-Haul van that was operating in a reckless manner. An Oregon State Police trooper located the U-Haul and attempted to make an enforcement contact.
The operator of the U-Haul would not stop and continued northbound.
Due to heavy traffic, the OSP trooper discontinued attempting to stop the U-Haul and requested Oregon State Police personnel in Salem to attempt to locate it. A short time later, it was determined that the U-Haul was reported as a stolen vehicle.
Oregon State Police troopers from the Salem area located the U-Haul and observed it to still be driving in a reckless manner northbound on Interstate 5. OSP troopers monitored the U-Haul as it continued northbound and exited the highway.
OSP troopers followed the U-Haul to the Fred Meyers fuel station in Salem. Troopers attempted to block the U-Haul, however were unsuccessful. The U-Haul pulled out onto the roadway and collided with another motorist and commercial motor vehicle. The U-Haul temporarily became wedged between the two vehicles. An OSP trooper attempted to block the vehicle from the rear.
The operator of the U-Haul rammed the OSP patrol vehicle and the other vehicles. The U-Haul sustained extensive front end damage and returned to Interstate 5, traveling northbound. OSP Troopers pursued the U-Haul until the U-Haul pulled to the side of the freeway and stopped.
A male suspect was taken into custody without incident and has been identified as 38-year-old Jose Flores from Medford, Oregon.
It was later learned that the U-Haul van was stolen from the Seattle area earlier in the day while it was being used to deliver Amazon packages.
It was confirmed that the back of the U-Haul was filled with mail parcels from Amazon.
No injuries were reported to the motoring public, law enforcement or suspect.
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