VIDEO: Oregon fugitives ram patrol vehicles in attempt to escape capture

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Two Oregon fugitives were taken into custody on Jan. 28 after a weeks-long chase that ended with a demolition-derby-style standoff in a Terrebonne grocery store parking lot, a few miles from Smith Rock State Park.

The suspects, 33-year-old James Ayers of Redmond and 35-year-old Kayla Busche of Redmond, both had felony warrants for their arrest and were involved in multiple “dangerous vehicle pursuits” within the past few weeks, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office said. Both suspects were considered a significant risk to the public and authorities were eager to put the couple behind bars.

The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office SWAT team descended upon the grocery store in undercover patrol vehicles at 9 a.m., after receiving information that Ayers and Busche were in the area. The SWAT team located Ayers and Busche, surrounded their truck on all sides and attempted to make an arrest. The suspects rammed the patrol vehicles in an attempt to flee, video of the scene shows.

“Ayers was the driver of the vehicle and began ramming unmarked police vehicles in an attempt to escape,” the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office said. “The unmarked vehicles, displaying emergency lights, were able to briefly immobilize the vehicle. During which time, Ayers moved to the passenger seat as Busche moved to the driver's seat.”

Busche continued to ram the patrol vehicles, burning rubber as she attempted to break through the blockade. The suspects were unable to escape and ultimately surrendered after causing “significant vehicle damage and creating an extremely dangerous and potentially lethal encounter,” the sheriff’s office said.

Ayers was booked charged with three counts of attempted assault of a police officer, felon in possession of a restricted weapon, fleeing or attempting to elude police, nine counts of reckless endangering, two counts of criminal mischief, escape and reckless driving.

Busche was booked into the Deschutes County Jail for two counts of attempted assault on a police officer, driving with a suspended license, fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, nine counts of reckless endangering, two counts of criminal mischief, escape and reckless driving.