Driver with toddler, meth arrested after high-speed chase

Two men are facing criminal charges after a high-speed police chase with a 2-year-old child in their car that ended in Clackamas County.

Oregon State Police said at 7:19 p.m. Saturday a trooper saw a car speeding northbound on Interstate 5 in northern Marion County.

The trooper stopped the 1998 Mercedes and said that as he approached the vehicle, the driver sped away. The trooper returned to his car and pursued the suspect northbound, with speeds topping 100 mph.

According to police, the suspect vehicle merged onto Interstate 205 and continued northbound, but appeared to be having mechanical issues as it started to smoke and slow down.

The vehicle took the Stafford Road exit and came to a stop. The driver got out of the car and ran into a thick patch of blackberry briars.

Troopers said it was not known if the driver was armed and he refused to come out of the wooded area, so a police K-9 was used to take the man into custody.

The driver was identified by police as 21-year-old Kyler Lawrence of Kent, WA. He was taken to the hospital for treatment of injuries he received from the K-9.

Police then took him to the Clackamas County Jail, where he is being charged with felony attempt to elude, attempt to elude on foot, reckless driving, reckless endangering another person and unlawful possession of methamphetamine.

Police arrested the passenger, identified as 21-year-old Devin Hoffman of Tacoma, WA, on the charge of endangering the welfare of a minor. Police said there was a 2-year-old child unrestrained in the back seat.

Police said the child was taken to Doernbecher Children’s Hospital for evaluation and was later released to a family member.

OSP was assisted by the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, Lake Oswego Police Department, West Linn Police Department, and the Oregon City Police Department.