Date: April 12, 2022
LOCATION: Highway 97 near Vandevert Rd
ARRESTED: Michael Paul Gookin, 43 year old male, Salem, OR
VEHICLE: 1998 Toyota RAV 4
CHARGES: Attempt to Elude (felony), Attempt to Elude (misdemeanor), Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants (Felony), Driving While Suspended (Felony), Reckless Driving, Reckless Endangering, Felon in Possession of a Restricted Weapon, Resisting Arrest, Attempted Assault on a Law Enforcement Animal
On April 12, 2022 at approximately 4:00 AM deputies from the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office were advised that Officers from the Bend Police Department were attempting to stop a suspected DUII driver. The driver of the vehicle refused to stop, leading officers on a short pursuit. The officers terminated the pursuit and passed along the vehicle description and license plate to local law enforcement agencies.
At around 4:28 AM a DCSO deputy was on Highway 97 near Vandevert Rd. and observed this vehicle driving south on the highway without lights. Due to this vehicle eluding law enforcement earlier the deputy requested another deputy set up Stop Sticks south of his location on the highway. The deputy then attempted to stop the vehicle by activating his lights and siren. The driver of the vehicle did not stop and continued driving at approximately 40 miles per hour. The Stop Sticks were deployed in the area of Highway 97 and State Rec Road and successfully deflated one rear tire on the vehicle. There was minimal traffic on the highway at this time, so deputies continued pursuing the vehicle. The pursuit was discontinued as it entered the City of La Pine, but deputies were able to observe the vehicle from a distance. The vehicle continued to drive south on the highway ultimately making a U-turn at the south end of La Pine and began driving north on Hwy 97. As the vehicle was in the area of Hwy 97 and Burgess Road the pursuit intervention technique (PIT) was used to stop the vehicle. After the vehicle stopped, the driver later identified as Michael Gookin fled on foot into a wooded area to the west of the vehicle. K9 Ronin and his partner Deputy Michael Mangin were on scene, and began tracking Gookin. Gookin was located a short distance away from the vehicle. Gookin refused to comply with commands from the deputy. K9 Ronin ultimately bit Gookin in order to get control of him. Gookin continued to resist attempts at taking him into custody.
Gookin was transported to St. Charles for evaluation and was later transported to the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Jail and lodged on the above mentioned charges.
The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office is a full service agency that oversees the adult jail, provides patrol, criminal investigations, civil process and search and rescue operations. Special units include SWAT, Marine Patrol, ATV Patrol, Forest Patrol, along with six K9 teams. Founded in 1916 and today led by your duly elected Sheriff L. Shane Nelson, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office serves over 200,000 residents in Deschutes County. The agency has 259 authorized and funded personnel, which includes 193 sworn employees who provide services to the 3,055 square miles of Deschutes County.
