After nearly two weeks on the run, Lincoln County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a 48-year-old Waldport man on kidnapping and 17 other charges following a chase Thursday.
Richard D. Leach is in custody with bail at $730,000.
In a news release Friday, the sheriff’s office said deputies had been looking for Leach since May 16 when they went to a disturbance outside a business on Hemlock Street in downtown Waldport. The man and a passenger had fled, but deputies knew the vehicle and attempted to contact Leach at his home. But he fled.
The other person involved in the disturbance told deputies that Leach had forced them into his car at gunpoint, drove to several places around Waldport, and was assaulted several times.
Deputies recovered a firearm, the sheriff’s office said.
Deputies searched for Leach extensively the next several days and found his vehicle burned on a remote forest road.
About 4:45 p.m. Thursday deputies spotted Leach in a Toyota Corolla three miles east of Waldport on Highway 34. Deputies attempted to stop him, but he fled with deputies in pursuit. At the same time, dispatchers received a call of a stolen Toyota from a residence along Highway 34.
The sheriff’s office said the pursuit lasted approximately 45 minutes over forest roads between East Canal Creek Road and East Eckman Creek Road. During that time, deputies said, Leach’s car struck a passing vehicle and attempted to hit the pursuing sheriff’s vehicles. Despite both rear tires failing, Leach continued to attempt to elude deputies.
To prevent the pursuit from going back into Waldport and heavier traffic, deputies used a spike strip near the intersection of Eckman Creek Road and East Lakeside Drive to disable the vehicle. The car finally failed in the 500 block of East Eckman Creek Road and rolled to a stop.
Deputies said Leach refused to comply with commands to surrender, so two police dogs were used to subdue him.
While being treated for dog bites, deputies said, Leach spit blood on emergency medical personnel. Leach was taken into custody and transported to Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital in Newport.
Leach has been charged with first-degree kidnapping, unlawful use of a weapon, criminal mischief, unauthorized use of a vehicle, attempting to elude police, aggravated harassment, coercion, and 12 other related charges.