Local News

UPDATE: Billy James Best has been arrested and is lodged in the Douglas County Jail.

Authorities were on the lookout for a man who eluded law enforcement following a police pursuit in Douglas County late yesterday. His passenger -- a Josephine County woman -- is in custody.

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office reports deputies tried to stop a 2008 Ford Focus in Oakland on Wednesday shortly after 5 p.m., but the driver failed to yield and eluded law enforcement at a high rate of speed heading south on Interstate 5.

A Sutherlin police officer successfully deployed spike strips on the eluding car, causing the driver -- identified as Billy James Best of Seaside -- to crash into a ditch and flee on foot near Interstate 5 in Sutherlin. Best is considered to be armed and dangerous, so a "reverse 9-1-1 call" notification system was used to warn local residents. The community was asked to be vigilant and report suspicious activity.

The Sheriff's Office, Sutherlin Police Department and Oregon State Police searched the area for hours with the assistance of canines without success. There remains a heavy law enforcement presence in the area searching for Best, who has multiple warrants for his arrest including new crimes committed during the elude.

A female passenger identified as Christina Marie Dominguez of Cave Junction was taken into custody for Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine. She was lodged at the Douglas County Jail in Roseburg.