A 33-year-old man, Ryan Anthony Salt, led Transit Police on a vehicular chase through traffic after driving away in a stolen van, ultimately crashing into multiple cars, and was arrested this past Monday as reported by the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office. The incident, which began around 5 p.m. near the Delta Park/Vanport MAX Station, unfolded as officers discovered Salt in the stolen van and attempted to stop him, however, he fled exacerbating the rush hour congestion, and the officers chose not to pursue him closely but kept the vehicle in sight from a distance.
According to the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, Salt displayed reckless abandon navigating on the shoulder and against the flow of oncoming traffic, in the process he collided with four vehicles; after his vehicular rampage Salt abandoned the stolen van, proceeded to sprint across all lanes of I-5 which caused multiple drivers to execute abrupt stops. A firearm, believed to have belonged to Salt, was recovered during the investigation. Fortunately, none of the collisions resulted in life-threatening injuries.
The chase ended with the Portland Police Bureau apprehending Salt near I-5 and North Marine Drive, and he is now facing multiple charges: unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, possession of a stolen vehicle, attempting to elude by vehicle, being a felon in possession of a firearm, reckless endangering, failure to perform the duties of a driver, unlawful entry to a motor vehicle, attempt to elude on foot, and reckless driving. Despite the hefty string of accusations, it is important to remember, as stated by the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, that “Charges are only allegations, and every arrested person is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.”…