Vehicle Pursuit from Walmart to the Round-About

Warrenton, OR – On October 1, 2020 at 5:03pm Warrenton Police Officers were dispatched to Walmart in reference to a Theft in progress inside the store where a male suspect was in the men’s apparel and possibly had a razor knife. Shortly after the call, Ofc. Robert Wirt and Ofc. Madyson Hanna arrived in their patrol vehicles to find the male suspect speeding from the area in a black 2003 Volkswagen Jetta. Officers pursued the Jetta northbound on Highway 101 towards Astoria at speeds between 50 and 63 mph.

After coming across the New Youngs Bay Bridge an Astoria Police Officer had set up spike strips by the round-about and stopped all of the traffic in the area. The Jetta drove over the left side of the center island of the round-about, then grazed two vehicles as it entered the southbound traffic lanes, then drove onto the grass median that separates the south and northbound lanes. As the Jetta drove across the median the driver exited the moving vehicle and began to run east leaving the Jetta rolling on its own. The Jetta crossed the northbound lanes and became high-centered on a curb. Ofc. Wirt and Ofc. Hanna stopped and pursued the driver on foot for a short distance where he entered blackberry bushes, stopped, and surrendered.

Officers arrested 34-year-old Adam Wayne Fisher from Long Beach, Washington. Fisher was taken to Columbia Memorial Hospital Emergency Department to obtain a medical release as a precaution due to airbag deployment in his vehicle and running into the blackberry bushes. Ofc. Wirt was later treated at the emergency department for a minor injury to his knee suffered during fall in the short foot chase.

Fisher was taken to the Clatsop County Jail and held on the following charges: Reckless Endangering x 2, Attempt to Elude Police, Hit and Run x 2, Reckless Driving, Robbery III, Theft II, Theft III, Criminal Mischief III, and Escape III.

The WPD was assisted on the incident by and would like to thank the Astoria Police Department and the Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office.

Prepared by Chief Mathew Workman, 503-861-2235, policechief@ci.warrenton.or.us