Police: Car thief on LSD thought he was playing ‘Grand Theft Auto’

PORTLAND — A Grants Pass man told police he’d taken LSD and thought he was living a real-life version of video game “Grand Theft Auto” when he stole a car in front of patrol deputies and led them on an over 40-mile-long chase through Jackson County on Saturday, authorities say.

Two county deputies were awaiting a tow truck to haul away a 2003 Toyota Camry along Oregon 66 and Emigrant Lake Road after arresting the driver on an unrelated drunken driving case, when 23-year-old Anthony J. Clark got inside around 8:25 p.m., according to the sheriff’s office. He then drove off, evading one deputy’s efforts to stop him.

While speeding through Ashland, Talent and Phoenix, Clark crashed through chain link fences off the roadway, ran over spike strips twice and drove the wrong way down several roads, the sheriff’s office said. After several attempts, a patrol car managed to bump the rear of the Toyota and cause Clark to spin out in Medford.

Clark tried hitting a patrol car, then ran from the Toyota. He fled into a mobile home park and was arrested by police as he was trying to steal another car, the sheriff’s office said.

The sheriff’s office reported no one being hurt during the chase.

Clark admitted to the drug use and apparently hallucinating while being interviewed by authorities, the sheriff’s office said. According to a probable cause affidavit, Clark initially got into the Toyota after getting out of the passenger’s side of a pickup stopped nearby.

A Jackson County deputy wrote in the affidavit that Clark walked up to him and told him he was stealing the car. He got into the Toyota before the deputy was able to stop him and used the keys left in the door to start the car.

The deputy managed to open the door and grab onto Clark’s shirt, but then the driver accelerated away, the affidavit said. He nearly dragged the deputy and almost hit the pickup he arrived in.

Clark is accused of driving under the influence of intoxicants, second-degree criminal mischief, third-degree escape, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, attempting to elude a police officer, possession of a stolen motor vehicle, unlawful entry into a motor vehicle, interfering with a police officer, reckless endangering, reckless driving and offensive littering.