On Thursday, March 19, 2020 at 10:24 a.m., East Precinct officers responded to the area of Northeast 102nd Avenue and Northeast Halsey Street on a report that a TriMet LIFT paratransit bus had been stolen. There were no passengers on the bus.
Officers located the bus and attempted to stop it. The driver eluded from officers in a reckless manner. Officers did not pursue. The bus ultimately crashed into another vehicle in the intersection of Southeast 122nd Avenue and Southeast Division Street. Officers arrived on scene and the suspect was taken into custody.
AMR responded to the scene. The suspect was transported to an area hospital with minor injuries.
The suspect has been identified as 31 year-old Marco Antonio Martinez-Menchaca. He has been booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center on charges of Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, Attempted Elude by Vehicle, Reckless Driving, Failure to Perform Duties of a Driver (hit and run), and Interfering with Public Transportation.