A California man was arrested early Wednesday morning, May 25, after leading Sheriff’s deputies in a pursuit, Linn County Sheriff Michelle Duncan reported.
According to Duncan and the Sheriff’s Office, Aaron Halvorson, 44, was arrested after allegedly punching a woman and threatening her with a machete the previous evening at a campsite at Sunnyside Park on Quartzville Road. When deputies arrived, Halvorson had already left.
Early Wednesday morning, at about 5:48 a.m., a deputy on the lookout for Halvorson found him driving a 2000 Lincoln Navigator with California plates. The deputy attempted to stop him near Highway 20 and Weirich Cut-Off. When he failed to stop, Duncan said, a pursuit was initiated.
Deputies continued to follow the Lincoln and were able to successfully deploy spike strips east of Lebanon, flattening three of its four tires. Halvorson continued to elude at low speeds, circling back into Lebanon where he eventually stopped and was taken into custody on Crowfoot Road.
Halvorson was lodged in the Linn County Jail on charges of felony attempt to elude, reckless driving, first-degree criminal mischief, fourth-degree assault, menacing and unlawful use of a weapon. Lebanon Police Department assisted in the pursuit.