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Released by: Sergeant Jayson Janes
Date: April 19, 2021
Arrested: Justin Dean Merritt, 39 year old male, Sisters
Charges: Attempt to Elude (felony), Reckless Driving, and Interfere With a Police Officer
Vehicle: 2004 GMC Yukon
On April 18, 2021 at approximately 11:15 AM, a Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office deputy was driving in the area of Hwy. 20 and S. Pine St. in the City of Sisters. The deputy observed a 2004 GMC Yukon on S. Pine St. The registration for the vehicle showed to be expired. There was also history of this vehicle being associated with a subject the deputy knew was currently wanted on pending criminal charges.
The deputy attempted to stop the vehicle and it immediately turned onto a dirt road and continued driving in an attempt to elude the deputy. The deputy pursued the vehicle for a short distance until it turned back toward the City of Sisters. The deputy discontinued the pursuit due to safety concerns. A deputy later observed the vehicle driving on Fryrear Rd. toward Hwy 126. The deputy followed the vehicle from a distance, advising other deputies of their location. Another deputy observed the vehicle near Buckhorn Rd. and Hwy 126. That deputy was able to successfully tag the vehicle with a Star Chase GPS dart. Deputies discontinued following the vehicle, and began tracking it remotely.
The GPS tracker showed the vehicle was stationary on BLM land off of Buckhorn Rd. Deputies located the vehicle and made contact with the only occupant of the vehicle. The subject later identified as Justin Merritt refused to obey commands to exit the vehicle. Deputies worked to de-escalate the situation and negotiated with Merritt for close to an hour before he agreed to exit the vehicle.
Merritt was taken into custody without incident and lodged in the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Jail 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 191 sworn employees who provide services to the 3,055 square miles of Deschutes County.