Deputies nab man with Clark County ties after alleged Oregon home invasion

A 24-year-old man with ties to Clark County was captured in Oregon Wednesday night after he allegedly broke into a woman’s home south of Hillsboro — prompting her to confront him with a knife to defend herself and two small children. The man then allegedly stole her minivan, led sheriff’s deputies and state troopers police on a car chase and fought with arresting officers with a box cutter knife in his hand.

Two sheriff’s deputies suffered minor injuries in the fight but no one was cut, police said.

Jonathan Marc Poland was booked into the Washington County Jail on suspicion of first-degree robbery, burglary, criminal mischief, attempting to elude police, reckless driving and resisting arrest, according to a bulletin from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.

Poland lives in Washington, the bulletin said. A search of court records showed that he was a plaintiff in a Clark County District Court case filed last year.

It was about 8:12 p.m. Wednesday when the mother, age 35, called 911 to report a home-invasion robbery. She said a man had used a hammer to smash the glass on her back door, then reached in to unlock the door and came inside.

With her children, a boy age 7 and girl age 5, in bed, she grabbed a knife and used a table to keep the intruder away from her, the bulletin said.

The man then grabbed the keys to her 2001 Dodge Caravan, ran out the front door and drove away in the van, the bulletin said. The woman was not reported injured.

Deputies rushing to the scene spotted the stolen van and it accelerated in a pursuit into Aloha. Deputies placed tire-puncturing spike strips in the van’s path twice, causing it to slow due to the deflating tires, the bulletin said.

Moments later, a deputy used a patrol car to push the van into a spin and its driver fled on foot, police said. Deputies quickly caught up to the driver and, after a fight, subdued him. They found a box cutter knife under Poland and believe he was holding it during the struggle, but no one was cut., the bulletin said.

Poland was treated at the jail for minor injuries suffered during the fight. Two deputies also suffered minor injuries but didn’t need to go to a hospital, the bulletin said. Poland is to make a first appearance in court today.

John Branton: 360-735-4513 or john.branton@columbian.com.