The New Era - All about Sweet Home since 1929

A Corvallis man was arrested Monday, Jan. 2, after a gunfire-punctuated, multi-agency police chase that began near Corvallis and ended near the rail station in Albany.

According to the Albany Police, Corvallis law enforcement attempted to stop a black 1997 Honda driven by 40-year-old Stephen Anthony Schmidt-Sheldon on Peoria Road, about a mile south of Hwy. 34, near Corvallis shortly before noon. Schmidt-Sheldon reportedly failed to stop and fired multiple shots, leading his pursuers through southwest Linn County, east on Bell Plain Drive in Shedd to Hwy. 99E, where Oregon State Police troopers and Linn County Sheriff's Office deputies joined the pursuit. Albany Police officers deployed spike strips near Beta Drive near the Linn-Benton Community College campus and again at 53rd Ave. near Lakeshore Lanes, where Schmidt-Sheldon's Honda lost two tires.

When the chase continued into Albany, Oregon State Police used a forcible stopping technique near the train depot, ending the incident under the Pacific Blvd. overpass, where Schmidt-Sheldon and OSP troopers exchanged gunfire. The suspect sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken by ambulance to an area hospital. He was later arrested and lodged at the Linn County Jail on charges of attempted murder, first-degree attempted assault, unlawful use of a weapon, felon in possession of a firearm, reckless endangering, reckless driving and failure to perform the duties of a driver.

No further injuries were reported. Members of the Linn-Benton Major Crimes Team were assembled, with Albany Police Department leading the investigation.

The investigation is ongoing and no further information was immediately available.