A 19-year-old Bend man was arrested on domestic violence and weapons charges after fleeing from authorities. At approximately 1:12 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 15, Bend Police responded to a weapons offense in the Safeway parking lot in the 600 block of NE Third Street. The 911 caller reported that a man had assaulted a woman in a vehicle in the Safeway parking lot and then threatened the caller with a firearm.
When officers arrived approximately 3 minutes later, the suspect ran from officers. After a brief foot pursuit, Bend Police followed him to the Arco gas station at NE Third Street and Greenwood Avenue, where he assaulted gas station employees who attempted to stop him from leaving the area. The employees and a community member prevented Smith from leaving the gas station until officers arrived. Officers then took the suspect into custody, and another community member alerted officers to a pile of his belongings that he’d attempted to hide nearby.
Officers recovered a subcompact Glock 26 pistol, as well as a variety of drugs and packaging material commonly used for sales, at the scene.
The suspect had a felony warrant from the Oregon Youth Authority for a probation violation on a second-degree burglary charge. He was transported to the Deschutes County Jail on suspicion of fourth-degree assault, menacing, harassment, unlawful use of a firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm, and the felony warrant.
