Photo: Brad Newgard
A suspect who was at large in Oregon for three days was captured Thursday afternoon in Westport, Oregon, thanks to the efforts of multiple law enforcement agencies.
“We hope the Westport community will rest easier tonight knowing this dangerous suspect is safely in custody and that we kept the public out of harm’s way,” said incident commander and Clatsop County Sheriff Matt Phillips.
“We thank the Astoria Police Department and Oregon State Police for sending officers to help us locate the suspect,” he said. “Their assistance was instrumental in the successful conclusion of this law enforcement operation.”
On Wednesday evening, law enforcement converged on the community of Westport in response to a sighting of suspect Kevin James Reynolds. The search lasted until 2:30 a.m. Thursday and then resumed at daylight.
At approximately 9:20 a.m. Reynolds was sighted by a homeowner when a law enforcement search team was in the area.
“The team directed by Clatsop County Sgt. Nathen Baldwin quickly established a perimeter where Reynolds was last seen. They held it until additional units and command staff arrived,” Phillips said.
The team consisted of three Clatsop County deputies, an Oregon state trooper and two Columbia County deputies.
Clatsop County Sgt. Thomas Phillips responded with his K9 Tux and tracked the suspect from a wooded area Reynolds was last seen to an outbuilding in the 98800 block of McLean Hill Rd.
“We surrounded the building and demanded that Reynolds surrender but he did not respond,” Phillips said.
At about 11:48 a.m. the use of a 40mm barrier penetrating OC gas projectile was deployed and proved effective in encouraging Reynolds’ peaceful exit of the building. He was taken into custody without further incident.
After being evaluated by Westport Fire and Clatskanie EMS, Reynolds was transported to the Columbia County Jail by on-scene Columbia County deputies.
Reynolds has an outstanding warrant for robbery in the 1st degree and was sought for arrest on several other charges including attempted murder, kidnapping, burglary, unlawful use of a firearm and unlawful possession of a firearm.
Source: Clatsop County Sheriff's Office