The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office conducted a high-visibility patrol mission in the Columbia River Gorge on Saturday, June 22, that resulted in 18 traffic stops, three citations, 15 warnings and one felony arrest.

Patrol deputies worked the areas of I-84, the Historic Columbia River Highway, Larch Mountain and Crown Point. They focused on enforcing traffic laws with an emphasis on speed reduction and street racing. 

In recent years, dangerous driving activity along the Historic Columbia River Highway has been the cause of several crashes, including one on June 12, 2024, when deputies responded to a car that had crashed and came to rest 150-feet down a ravine. Excessive speed is believed to be a contributing factor in that crash, which resulted in one person being seriously injured.

During Saturday’s mission, a felony arrest was made after a motorcyclist eluded deputies. A sergeant observed a motorcycle with no license plates. Before the sergeant could attempt to stop the motorcycle, the motorcyclist saw the sergeant and sped off. Another deputy turned on their emergency lights, but the motorcyclist continued. MCSO did not pursue the eluding motorcycle. A short time later, deputies discovered the motorcyclist had crashed on Larch Mountain Road and ran into a wooded area. After about 20 minutes, he came out of the woods and surrendered. He was treated on-scene for injuries sustained from the crash and was charged with felony and misdemeanor elude.

Additionally, deputies wrote three citations during the enforcement mission. In one case, a driver was issued a ticket for excessive speeding. They were traveling 63 miles per hour in a 40 mile per hour zone in Corbett.

The Sheriff’s Office has also received reports that people congregate near the Vista House at Crown Point after the park closes at 9 p.m. Crown Point has become a popular location for illegal street takeovers and racing. During the mission, deputies visited Crown Point and advised all visitors that the parking area was closed, and they needed to leave.

Future enforcement missions are planned throughout the summer to prevent dangerous driving behaviors in the Columbia River Gorge and rural neighborhoods in east Multnomah County.