On Monday, April 25, 2022, shortly before 10:00 am, Douglas County 911 dispatchers received a call from a man at Toketee Falls reporting he had observed a man loitering in the parking lot next to the caller’s vehicle with a jug filled with yellow liquid.
He later discovered his fuel lines had been cut. The caller observed the suspect leave in a silver Toyota Tacoma. A deputy responded to take the report. While the deputy was obtaining information from the victim, a Forest Service law enforcement officer observed the suspect vehicle a short distance away. Law enforcement learned the suspect vehicle had previously been reported stolen out of Beaverton, Oregon.
Law enforcement attempted to conduct a traffic stop with the suspect vehicle, which fled toward Highway 138E. After a brief vehicle pursuit, the suspect pulled over in the middle of the westbound lane of 138E and ran from the car and swam across the North Umpqua River.
A perimeter was established and K9 Eros was dispatched to the scene. K9 Eros tracked the suspect’s scent down a trail eastbound from his point last seen, locating several articles of the suspect’s clothing. Another deputy, assigned to the Diamond Lake area, was staged holding perimeter at the opposite end of the trail. Eventually the suspect walked toward the staged deputy’s location and was taken into custody without further incident.
The male initially refused to identify himself and denied any involvement in the incident. He was transported to the Douglas County Jail where he was identified as 29-year-old Aubra Carl Rasmussen of Beaverton. Rasmussen had four warrants for his arrest out of Washington County. In addition to the warrants, he was lodged on the following charges:
- Attempt to Elude Police – Vehicle
- Attempt to Elude Police – Foot
- Possession of a Stolen Vehicle
- Reckless Driving
- Criminal Mischief II
- Theft III
Courtesy of DCSO
