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Two charged after high-speed pursuit

Friday, September 30, 2005 8:31 AM PDT

By Leslie Slape

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Columbia County authorities took a handoff from Longview police Thursday afternoon and apprehended the occupants of a Ford Probe that fled over the Lewis and Clark Bridge then headed east on Highway 30 at up to 110 mph.

Oregon State Police Sgt. Larry Lucas laid spike strips near Deer Island, west of St. Helens. The Probe came to a stop at around 1:50 p.m. in some blackberry bushes after one tire was flattened.

The chase began in Longview, when officers received a tip of suspicious activity.

"When they got near them, they took off," Columbia County Sheriff Phil Derby said. He didn't know where the chase started but said it wasn't far from the bridge.

As the Probe gained speed and crossed lanes, Longview officers terminated pursuit within a few minutes. Dispatchers alerted officers on the Oregon side of the Columbia River to be ready for the car.

"A Rainier officer happened to be near the foot of the bridge," Derby said. "He saw the vehicle -- it was very noticeable because it didn't go around the loop. They came down the on-ramp."

The Probe then ran the red light at Rockcrest Road at an estimated 90 mph and headed toward St. Helens with Rainier patrol cars in pursuit, Derby said. Two Columbia County sheriff's vehicles joined the chase. Other deputies stopped as much traffic as they could, Derby said.

The car nearly hit two flaggers in a construction area near Goble, Derby said.

Both the driver, Shauna L. O'Connell, and the passenger, Kirk A. Brenon, are being held in the Columbia County Jail.

Brenon, 37, of Edmonds, Wash., will be extradited to California on a felony warrant. He also has felony warrants from the Bremerton area.

O'Connell, 27, of Federal Way, is being held for investigation of county charges of reckless driving, attempting to elude and three counts of reckless endangerment. Combined bail is $22,520. Additional charges are possible in Rainier community court, Derby said. He didn't know what charges O'Connell might face in Cowlitz County.

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free spirit wrote on Feb 7, 2008 1:19 AM:

" If they were in bad condition , it would seam that the neighbor who saw them in the woods would have immediately rescued them, and asked questions later. Obviously they were not in bad condition, only crates(not a crime) or carriers. Maybe he did take his animals with him on a trip. I have taken mine before,and know many people who take thiers along(even in RVs. Sounds like extreme tree huggers to me. Or maybe the PETA people who think a dog should never be crated.I guess it is more humane to go to dog shows and let other peoples dogs out in protest to them bieng in thier crates. I guess if this results in them getting hit by a car, lost, or running at large , this is acceptable. Most vet's require that an animal is crated in the waiting area. I hear no mention of whether or not they had food, or water. I think the humane society also must have someting better to do than chase after a guy and 18 dogs that are not in unsavory condition, even by the accounts of the neighbor who saw them in the woods. If they were in bad condition shame on that neighbor for leaving them there. "

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