A man in Aloha, Oregon, is facing multiple charges after allegedly shoplifting and leading police on a high-speed chase. After a string of collisions and reckless driving instances, the sheriff’s office said, he was eventually found hiding under a tarp.
According to a press release issued by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO), the incident occurred on Sunday, May 31. A WCSO deputy responded to an Ace Hardware located on 3470 SW 185th Avenue.
Upon arrival, the deputy learned that an individual, later identified as 40-year-old Moua Thao, had allegedly stolen items from the hardware store. Then, he is accused of leaving the store and fleeing in a vehicle.
Deputies began investigating the case. Shortly after, the Thao’s vehicle was spotted on SW 201st Avenue. Law enforcement agents attempted to make him stop his car, to no avail, triggering a chase.
Chase Begins
Thao continued eluding deputies across various Aloha streets, the WCSO said. At one point, he allegedly crashed into another vehicle near SW 185th Avenue and SW Baseline Road.
This collision disabled the suspect’s car. Fortunately, the other vehicle’s occupants were not seriously injured.
However, when deputies arrived at the scene of the crash, the driver was nowhere to be found. Therefore, the LCSO called for a K-9 unit to assist with tracking.
Fleeing on Foot
Shortly after, multiple witnesses called 911. They had allegedly seen Thao running through various neighborhoods and even jumping fences.
Two K-9 teams started to narrow the distance between them and the suspect. In total, the tracking took about three hours.
Deputies eventually arrived at a location near the 19000 block of SW Johnson Road. Thao was located hiding under a backyard tarp.
Multiple Charges
Moua Thao was placed under arrest. He is now facing multiple charges, including attempt to elude in a vehicle, hit and run, fourth-degree assault, reckless driving, and second-degree theft. He also had outstanding warrants in Washington County and the Oregon Parole Board.
The man, however, is facing other charges that were added while he was in jail. These are connected to separate open cases involving theft and driving offenses, as per the Beaverton Police Department.
If convicted of his most serious charge, attempt to elude in a vehicle, Thao could face up to 5 years in prison. The same penalty applies to the reckless driving charge since people were injured, with both charges also carrying a fine of up to $125,000 each.
The incident continues under investigation. The WCSO has asked anyone with more information related to the case to contact them via non-emergency 503-629-0111 (case number 50-26-7537).