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Kelso police arrested Aaron Strader after his pickup hit a patrol vehicle Sunday at Tam O'Shanter Park. Photo courtesy of Anthony McCoy

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Police, angry players chase suspect through Kelso softball game

Tuesday, May 6, 2008 10:07 AM PDT

By Leslie Slape

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Kelso police said Aaron Donald Strader drove “in an outrageous and reckless manner” through Tam O’Shanter Park on Sunday, nearly hitting people at a softball game and prompting angry ballplayers to chase him with bats.

No one was injured except Strader, 29, who has a Band-Aid over a facial Taser dart wound in his booking photo at the Cowlitz County Jail. He was held on allegations of felony eluding, vehicular assault, reckless endangerment, resisting arrest, obstructing an officer and disorderly conduct.

A few hours later, the Puyallup man was whisked away to the Pierce County Jail for booking in connection with a felony assault investigation by the Fife Police Department. He allegedly shot and injured his girlfriend there, police said.

The report didn’t say why Strader came to Kelso on Sunday, but Daily News archives show he used to live here.

Guests at Dominic Kerns’ 4th birthday party noticed Strader behaving oddly, including walking around the playground looking intently at children and driving slowly through the park in the wrong direction.

“He made us nervous,” Shannon Bass of Longview said Monday. “We were keeping an eye on him.”

When he walked through the party in a shelter, they told him to leave, Bass said.

“He said, ‘Why is everybody looking at me and staring at me like I’m some weirdo?’ ” Bass said.

“We had a little girl at the party who started crying,” said Laurie McComas of Kelso. “She said the man scared her.”

Bass decided to call 911 “before something happens to somebody.”

While Bass was on the phone, Strader drove his Toyota pickup onto the Coweeman River dike, she said.

Anthony McCoy of Kelso, who was photographing the party, snapped a picture of the truck on the dike.

Strader then drove into a parking lot between Stan Rister Stadium and the picnic shelter, where Kelso officers tried to speak with him. Suddenly he surged backward at more than 35 mph “in an outrageous and reckless manner,” the police report said.

“We were afraid he was going to hit one of the little boys out playing ball,” McComas said.

As police followed slowly, Strader drove at high speed through a crowd watching a softball game, the report said.

“He drove up a narrow strip of grass by the ball field and he narrowly missed a girl with a baby and stroller,” Bass said. “Then he flew through a strip with lots of people.”

“Half the softball field was running over there after him — and half of them had their bats,” said McCoy, who kept snapping pictures.

Strader hit a large log as he tried to enter a parking lot and went airborne, Bass said. “The truck threw stuff out of the bed, including the spare tire. I don’t know how he missed hitting cars in the parking lot.”

The only vehicle Strader hit was Sgt. Darr Kirk’s patrol vehicle, the report said. Officer Mike Cowan blocked the pickup in.

Strader ran and had to be Tasered twice, the second time in the face, police said.

Police said as Strader was being arrested, he told onlookers, “Don’t grow up like me.”

Strader admitted using methamphetamine and a “speedball,” a mixture of heroin and cocaine, because his girlfriend broke his heart, police said.

Officers later learned that Strader was wanted in the Pierce County assault case.

“It’s a great thing the cops were there,” McCoy said. “Thank God they got him before he got someone.”

Holy Camoly wrote on May 6, 2008 12:34 AM:

" Let's see what the lowlife's who normally post will say? I bet some will find fault with the cops and some will find fault with the parents at the park. Most lowlifes and malcontents will agree that this young/troubled man just needed a hug. Let's all cry together now...... Oh, BTW, thanks KPD for your quick response and responsible actions. "

lolajo wrote on May 6, 2008 3:04 AM:

" Thank God no one was hurt. My son plays ball at Tamo and to think he could've been there and possibly been hitby this FREAK. I hope he is gone for a long time. "

HATETHINK wrote on May 6, 2008 3:14 AM:

" this guy should be put to work at hard labor to pay for that POLICE CAR, instead he'll be fed jello and told to learn to control his anger.Makes me sick that anyone in the park could have easily been hurt or ended up going to prison for bashing a doped up dope. "

How Touching wrote on May 6, 2008 5:02 AM:

" Another of Kelso's fine citizens returns to the area... "

outraged wrote on May 6, 2008 5:36 AM:

" Just another reason we need to do somehting about the drug problems in our country. They are totally different people when on drugs as I know so clearly. My daughter was on drugs and alcohol for years. Thank God she has finally turned her life around. "

too bad wrote on May 6, 2008 7:07 AM:

" The police should have been a bit slower. A little home town justice might put some "smarts" in the to po' boy! "

Zucchini wrote on May 6, 2008 7:39 AM:

" "Don't grow up like me.".... Sort of says it all. "

Ruttabaga wrote on May 6, 2008 8:26 AM:

" THANK YOU KPD - SOME BUSTS ARE A LITTLE TRICKIER THAN OTHERS - YOU DID A GREAT JOB AND NO ONE WAS HURT. To the folks who were there...I wish you peace and hope the playbacks in your mind go away soon. So scary, I'm sorry. "

Kelso res wrote on May 6, 2008 8:29 AM:

" Sounds like this guy was totally out of control. Probably would of been shot if the park wasn't full of families and kids. Good job KPD on using your head with the taser and not your glock although I'm sure a shooting would of been justified. "

krr wrote on May 6, 2008 8:31 AM:

" Too bad the bats didn't get to him before the tazer did. I'm sure he will get a gentle talking lawyer "paid by our tax dollars" to pat his hand, be forced to go to drug rehab "paid by our tax dollars"....and will be out and at it again. Put the low life to work,(hard work) to pay off the fines! "

Dookie Lumpkins wrote on May 6, 2008 8:32 AM:

" Hey Batta Batta Batta "

Advocate wrote on May 6, 2008 8:35 AM:

" That poor young man. Just think, he's had a terrible life, his girl friend was mean to him. Really, if someone can just get through to him and let him know that he has value. That should really do the trick. I think I'm going to drive up to Tacoma right now and see if I can get a visit with him and give him a hug. On my way I'm going to stop at KPD and give them a piece of my mind... taser to the face, indeed! Care to join me, "Holy Camoly?" "

Nascar should consider this wrote on May 6, 2008 8:42 AM:

" Strader admitted using methamphetamine and a speedball, a mixture of heroin and cocaine, because his girlfriend broke his heart, police said. Speedball on every pitstop. His girlfriend broke his heart, Oh I guess it was completely justified, just listen to Kookin Kountry, you'll feel even worse. "

cool wrote on May 6, 2008 8:46 AM:

" Wow....

You know how sometimes you see someone doing something in a car...speeding, being reckless...and you say," Where's a cop when you need one?" Thank God that they were there that day. It would have been so tragic if he would have hit anyone.

Kudos to the Kelso Police and to those with the baseball bats! :) "

My opinion wrote on May 6, 2008 9:02 AM:

" I've always felt like the Kelso Police were a professional group doing a tough job. But my impression of them has risen after this. This guy was beyond out of control, and the cops really saved the day. If another cop hadn't showed up to control the guys with the bats, there might have been a lynching. It was crazy. Way to go Kelso P.D. "

Mom wrote on May 6, 2008 9:05 AM:

" My daughter was at the Rister Stadium watching a ball game and told me about this. As with most moms my first thought was all the WHAT IF'S. I am so thankful for a smart person to call police when someone looks suspicious and I am thankful for a rapid response by the KPD. Instead of smart remarks lets be grateful that it ended as it did, it could have been a whole lot worse. Angels were watching! "

Barrels wrote on May 6, 2008 9:16 AM:

" I used to know a guy that raced barrels. I don't think he ever got arrested. Great title. "

Kelso Mom RE How Touching wrote on May 6, 2008 9:20 AM:

" First of all to How Touching, it sounds to me like you are jealous of the Kelso crowd. Kelso has it's "bad citizens" just like Longview (quite a few less, I'm sure) but you go to any Kelso football or baseball game or wrestling meet and you will see a SEA OF KELSO BLUE because WE are LOUD & PROUD to be
K-E-L-S-O......

Now, my 14 yr old son was playing a game at Rister when this yahoo decided to "play". Thank GOD my 10 yr old was sitting next to me and not walking over to the park to play with his friends. This guy was INSANE & very scary. Some parents were saying that they didn't want their children to see this guy but I did. I wanted my boys to see what drugs & alcohol AND poor life choices can do. And several of Kelso's finest were there in a heart beat. Thank you to them! And this guy is lucky that our KELSO boys with bats (and there were many) didn't get a hold of him first because we DO take care of our own.

Sorry for all the harsh words but I'm tired of all the Kelso bashing. "

Kelso Mom wrote on May 6, 2008 9:23 AM:

" My high school daughter was over at the practice field watching boys practice by the park with friends when this person drove by them and tried to engage them in a conversation asking if they knew who certain people were. Thank God they practiced "Don't talk to strangers" and ignored him. I send a HUGE thank you to the moms at the park who thought to call the police ~ things could have turned out so much worse. "

RE Beavis is carrying a GLOCK wrote on May 6, 2008 9:35 AM:

" They dont want all to hear what is being said:) "

Re Advocate wrote on May 6, 2008 9:44 AM:

" Are you kidding me? He's LUCKY that all he got was tazed. The park was FULL of people that day. He's lucky that he didn't hurt somebody. You can give him a hug if you want to but I'd rather kick him in the teeth. I was there. This guy was CRAZY!!!! "

I loved the title too wrote on May 6, 2008 10:03 AM:

" Did the barrels get away?! "

Hmm.. wrote on May 6, 2008 10:48 AM:

" The only problem with this, is that no one should've let their children chase the man with bats. If I chased someone with a bat I'd probably be looking at 3-5. "

Hawkeye wrote on May 6, 2008 11:09 AM:

" Everything about this is stupid, including most of the comments. The area needs to get rid of these losers once and for all. "

RE Hmm.. wrote on May 6, 2008 11:10 AM:

" It wasnt children chasing him with bats,..I was one of the many chasing him and we were the parents playing softball with our children,..he came close to hitting me and my son and he is lucky I, one of the other guys there with me, didnt get ahold of him. "

Thank God wrote on May 6, 2008 12:13 PM:

" Exactly why do people say thank god when stuff goes wrong? If there were a god and such a god had control over anything, then this guy wouldn't have made it past his birth, right? "

I dont need the police protection wrote on May 6, 2008 12:14 PM:

" Help us! We are helpless and defenseless. How about just stay out of the road and let the junkie pass. Of course that would involve not stumbling around, not paying attention to what you are doing, talking on your cell phone. You people sound like you need protection. Of course a lunatic like this would get arrested. I just doubt that it was that big of an emergency. "

Agnus wrote on May 6, 2008 12:22 PM:

" Thank You Kelso Police! It's just a miricle this man was caught before he hurt someone. Hopefully he will get the help he needs while he's incarcerated. One day, God willing maybe he can return to a normal productive life. "

RE RE Hmm...... wrote on May 6, 2008 12:32 PM:

" I do agree with the 'shouldnt have let them chase the man.' I'm 'the girl holding the baby' he almost hit -- and I'm also the mom of a couple of the boys chasing the truck and the baby was the son of one of those sons. Although I do understand the anger my son felt, I also understand the stupidity of chasing a crazy man in a vehicle - which I told him -- he could have had a gun or something in that truck. "

RE Holy Camoly wrote on May 6, 2008 12:52 PM:

" Do you have anger issues or WHAT!
Your comment was the first one I read and you must be one of the low lifes you are talking about in your comment!
I bet there is 100 different ways you could of gotten that same message accross with out using such hateful language......I bet your wife and kids are so proud of you....more like embarrassed by you......hahahaha "

Love a Cop wrote on May 6, 2008 1:01 PM:

" I, too, thank God for the Kelso Police and their quick response. The average "Joe Citizen" has no idea what cops are faced with every single day on every single shift. Kelso is very blessed to have such fine men and women serving on the force. Next time you see a Kelso officer out patrolling the streets keeping all of us safe, please tell them thanks for the tremendous job they do! "

RE I dont need the police protection wrote on May 6, 2008 2:02 PM:

" He wasn't exactly "on" the road. He was driving up the enbankment to the dike and across the field where there were CHILDREN & ADULTS.... Have you been to Tam'O? We were all out there having a nice sunny Sunday watching our kids play ball & this knucklehead shows up. "

curious wrote on May 6, 2008 2:40 PM:

" Curious to know why this area hasn't cracked down on the meth around here? I left 9yrs ago..trust me it's a problem everywhere. But isn't there something we ALL can do to bring these druggies down, put them out of buisness? Just like a cluttered backyard, clean the rubbish up and it begins to flourish.
As for the Kelso/Longview bashing.....what happened to communities watching out for their neighbors? The world is violent enough without having to bash one another.
One more thing, Be thankful the police were there and handled it the CORRECT way, what a thing to want your children witnessing (adults with bats out of control). "

large dog wrote on May 6, 2008 3:13 PM:

" what happen to the dog? "

RE Thank God wrote on May 6, 2008 7:54 PM:

" It is not God that kept this guy alive until now. It is you and I and all the other taxpayers who give our good money to make this loser an "equal citizen". Maybe if he had to worry about getting food to eat and where he is going to sleep without all the available handouts, he wouldn't have time to cause so much trouble. "

Dog wrote on May 6, 2008 8:14 PM:

" What dog? "

Norman wrote on May 7, 2008 3:19 AM:

" Check out the story in the Tacoma News Tribune about the guy who pumped four rounds from a rifle into his girlfriend. The story says he fled and has not been found. What the story doesn't say is that he ended up back home in Kelso and damn near got hisself shot for what clearly was a failed "suicide by cop". Sheds a whole new light on it, now doesn't it? "

friends wrote on May 7, 2008 6:20 PM:

" just so everybody knows we have been friends with both aaron and his fiance' that by the way he shot her "8" times, and she is ALIVE! we care for and love them both very much and will be here for them through this tragedy!!!! we are very sorry that this ever happened and that it has affected your community and your children. and for the people who want to give him a "hug"...and KPD a piece of their mind....just remember there is 2 sides to every story and you only have one. not to mention YOU have absolutely NO idea who aaron or his fiance' are! as to KPD they did thier job with diligence and no additional people got hurt!!! and that we should ALL be grateful for!!!!!!!! "

Jos neice wrote on May 7, 2008 8:40 PM:

" i really hope the person that posted the last comment understands that aaron is good for nothing and will be in prison the rest of his life. you are NO friend of his girlfriend's if you are sticking by him! "

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