An Oregon man who led police on a 12-mile, high-speed chase Feb. 27 between Fairview, Ore., and Vancouver was sentenced in Clark County Superior Court on Monday to 60 days in jail for taking a motor vehicle without permission.
Daniel Edstrom, 23, of Gresham, Ore., pleaded guilty to the felony charge in exchange for fewer charges. He was originally arrested on suspicion of possession of a stolen vehicle, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, attempting to elude police and driving with a suspended license.
Judge Barbara Johnson sentenced him to the prosecuting attorney’s recommendation of 60 days in jail with credit for 12 days served, per the plea agreement.
This is likely just the first chapter in Edstrom’s legal troubles. He also faces charges in Oregon related to the chase and must pay the owner of the stolen 1989 Acura Integra restitution for damage to her car’s tires from spikes police set up to stop Edstrom.
Officers from six agencies were involved in the pursuit. It began at 2:44 a.m. when a Fairview, Ore., police officer spotted the stolen vehicle, according to previous reports by The Columbian. Edstrom ran a red light and then merged onto westbound Interstate 84 as the officer pursued him. Edstrom drove at speeds of more than 100 mph north on Interstate 205, where he drove over spike strips set up by police. The spikes caused the car’s tires to disintegrate and 100 feet of sparks to fly behind the vehicle.
The car finally was disabled after it left the freeway via the Mill Plain exit and then spun out in the 400 block of Northeast 112th Avenue.
Edstrom then fled the vehicle on foot and hid in the area. Vancouver police and a canine unit with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office responded and set up a perimeter in the area.
Vancouver police eventually found Edstrom in some bushes behind Oscar’s Bar & Grill, 400 N.E. 112th Ave., and took him into custody. Nobody was injured.
Paris Achen: 360-735-4551; http://twitter.com/Col_Courts; http://facebook.com/ColTrends; paris.achen@columbian.com.
