10/09/25 - Lane County Sheriff’s Deputies Arrest Wanted Man After Shots Fired, Pursuit (Photo) - 10/10/25
On October 9th at about 11:30 p.m., a Lane County Sheriff’s deputy located a suspicious pickup parked on Herman Cape Road in U.S. Forest Service land north of Florence. The deputy contacted the driver and passenger. The driver, Tyler Ashton Leavitt, 41, of Indiana, had a warrant for his arrest out of Indiana for Disarming Law Enforcement, Criminal Recklessness, and Resisting Law Enforcement.
When deputies attempted to arrest Leavitt, he accelerated the pickup in the direction of a deputy on the narrow forest road, striking a patrol car. Fearing for the deputy’s life, a second deputy fired at Leavitt, however he was not struck. The first deputy was able to dive out of the way of the pickup.
Deputies pursued Leavitt. He attempted to turn into a driveway in the 5000 block of Herman Cape Road, but was initially stopped by a locked gate. Leavitt reversed his pickup and rammed into the patrol car behind him, then drove through the gate, causing significant damage. Leavitt drove off-road through a fence back onto Herman Cape Road, where a deputy conducted a Pursuit Intervention Technique (PIT), disabling the pickup. Leavitt was arrested without further incident.
Leavitt was lodged in the Lane County Jail on the following charges:
- Fugitive from Justice (for the Indiana warrant)
- Attempt to Elude by Vehicle
- Four counts of Recklessly Endangering
- Reckless Driving
- Two counts of Assault on a Public Safety Officer
- Three counts of Criminal Mischief in the 1st Degree
- Resisting Arrest
Thanks to Oregon State Police and Douglas County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance during this incident.
LCSO Case 25-4904
Attached Media Files:
LCSO Case 25-4904 Suspect Vehicle.jpeg,
