Two men were arrested following a police chase Saturday in Vancouver, during which one of the suspects hid in the Columbia River and then had to be treated for hypothermia after his capture.
Isiah Orion Salas Soria, 22, and Felipe Castro Jr., 24, were identified as the suspects, Vancouver Police Department spokeswoman Kim Kapp said in an email.
Salas Soria appeared Monday morning in Clark County Superior Court on suspicion of possession of methamphetamine, first-degree assault, motor vehicle theft, possession of a stolen vehicle, attempting to elude, unlawful possession of a firearm, driving under the influence and additional misdemeanors.
Judge Gregory Gonzales set Salas Soria’s bail at $75,000. Arraignment is scheduled for May 5.
Castro was arrested on suspicion of motor vehicle theft and obstruction. He is not listed on the Clark County Jail roster.
Shortly after 8 p.m. Saturday, a vehicle was reported stolen from the 4900 block of Northeast Hazel Dell Avenue. According to a probable cause affidavit, the owner of the vehicle had pulled over to help another person having car troubles when two people jumped into his Dodge Dart and drove away.
A Vancouver police officer spotted the car near East 39th and Main streets while parked. The car fled, eventually heading south on Interstate 5, Kapp said.
“I continued to pursue the vehicle southbound (on the freeway) and observed the vehicle swerve in a furtive manner toward other vehicles. … It was obvious that the vehicle was attempting to run vehicles off the roadway,” a police officer wrote in the affidavit.
The driver continued south into Portland, and Vancouver police terminated their pursuit.
However, the stolen vehicle turned around and came back across the Columbia River. Once again, officers chased the car and its two occupants, which continued east on Southeast Columbia Way until a dead-end roundabout at Tidewater Cove Condos, according to the police department. On this stretch of road, the officer reported that Salas Soria pointed what appeared to be a black handgun out the driver’s side window at his patrol vehicle, court records state.
“The driver and passenger both got out and fled towards the beach. The driver (allegedly Salas Soria) was located after he ditched his shoes, hiding in the river up to his nose,” Kapp said.
Officers searched Salas Soria and found a small bag containing suspected meth and foil containing suspected LSD in his pants pockets, according to the affidavit. He also allegedly smelled of alcohol and admitted to being drunk.
Salas Soria allegedly threw a handgun into the woods as he exited the stolen car. The affidavit does not indicate whether the gun was recovered.
Salas Soria was treated for hypothermia at a hospital before being booked into the Clark County Jail, police said. Castro was located a short time later and briefly treated at the hospital before being booked.
During the pursuit, the stolen vehicle hit at least one civilian vehicle, Kapp said, and several pedestrians had to jump out of the way to avoid being hit when it ran several red lights.
There were no injuries reported.
