PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – A man in a stolen vehicle was arrested Friday morning after police say he tried to swim away from officers in the Willamette River, according to Portland police.
Authorities say 23-year-old Lucas R. Lujan had eluded officers in a stolen white 2011 Kia Soul by driving nearly two miles on the Springwater Trail, “which is a multi-use path on which motor vehicles are prohibited.”
Around 11:18 a.m., officers came across the car in the 7800 block of Southeast Oaks Park Way, where they saw two people who appeared to be passed out.
They set up spike strips behind the vehicle’s tires in case the driver tried to drive off, but when Lujan woke up, he eluded the officers by driving over the spike strip — damaging a fence along the way.
Lujan took to Springwater Trail, where authorities say the car exceeded 50 mph and nearly hit a pedestrian on the trail.
When police located the car, they say Lujan ran away and hid down an embankment near the river. A K9 found Lujan, but when authorities challenged him, he jumped into the river and tried to swim away.
Eventually, police say Lujan “changed his mind and swam back, to be arrested.”
Upon arrest, Lujan claimed that he had swallowed narcotics, so he was brought to a hospital for an evaluation.
Lujan was later charged with of two counts of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, felony attempt to elude police by vehicle, misdemeanor attempt to elude police on foot, reckless driving and failure to perform the duties of a driver (property damage).
The car was returned to the original owner.
Police say anyone who had been on Springwater Trail to contact police via e-mail crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov and reference case number 23-96312.
Stay with KOIN 6 as we receive more information.