Man in U-Haul chase exonerated, but held on warrant

A Vancouver man arrested Monday for allegedly fleeing police in a stolen U-Haul, hitting spike strips and eventually abandoning the truck, was exonerated pending further investigation.

Dustin Van Brown, 41, was arrested on suspicion of possession of a stolen vehicle and appeared Tuesday in Clark County Superior Court. Brown had the truck’s keys, and a witness reported seeing him in the truck, according to a probable cause affidavit.

But the Clark County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office filed a motion stating that further investigation was necessary for a charge of possession of a stolen vehicle. Brown remains in the Clark County Jail on two counts of second-degree theft and one count of bail jumping in a separate case.

Police first spotted the U-Haul, which was reported stolen in Portland, around 1:30 p.m. on Northeast Fourth Plain Boulevard and attempted to stop it near Brandt Road, according to the affidavit. The truck took off westbound as police started giving commands, the affidavit said.

The truck hit spike strips deployed by police near Grand Boulevard, flattening both driver’s side tires, according to the affidavit. The truck continued but was later found abandoned on the state Highway 500 eastbound off ramp near St. Johns Boulevard, the affidavit said.

As police approached the truck, a male stood up in nearby bushes and took off running up a hill, according to the affidavit. He was quickly found hiding in bushes up the hill and arrested about 15 minutes after the truck was first spotted, the affidavit said.