Man Arrested After Striking Motorist And Troopers Vehicle - 09/16/18

Today around 3 p.m., Deputies with the Marion County Sheriff's Office received an attempt to locate of a vehicle involved in an incident in Washington County. The vehicle was located by our Traffic Safety Team on Interstate 5 in northern Marion County.  At the time the vehicle was located deputies elected not to pursue due to the erratic nature of the driver. 

The vehicle later traveled south and struck a vehicle at Chemawa Road NE and Portland Road NE. Soon after an Oregon State Trooper located the vehicle at a service station on Portland Road near Ward Drive when the Trooper attempted to contact the driver. The driver rammed the Troopers vehicle and fled the scene. A short time later the vehicle was located parked at a Space Age gas station on Cordon Road near Gaffin Road .Deputies located the river inside of the store where he was seized by a K9 and taken into custody. 

The man Gale Merrill, 59 of Beaverton in currently in custody for multiple crimes. Merrill is at the Salem Hospital where he is expected to remain while he undergoes a psychological evaluation . The Sheriff's Office does not anticipate releasing any additional details.