Beaverton Man Creates Mayhem In Two Counties Sunday: Police

SALEM, OR — A Beaverton man who fled a hit and run in Washington County was arrested in Salem on Sunday after allegedly committing another hit and run involving a Marion County Sheriff's patrol cruiser. The man was taken to Salem Hospital for psychological evaluation and later transported to Marion County Jail, police said.

Gale Frank George Merrill, 49, is charged in Marion County with assault, reckless driving and endangerment, hit and run, criminal mischief, attempt to elude and resisting arrest. He is also charged in Washington County for hit and run, reckless driving, and attempt to elude.

According to Beaverton police spokesman Jeremy Shaw, Merrill was involved in a hit and run crash on Southwest Scholls Ferry Road, near Southwest Springwood Drive, just before 3 p.m. Sept. 16. Described as a side swipe-style crash, it reportedly left the victim uninjured.

Using a witness description of the suspect vehicle, Beaverton police spotted Merrill's car on Southwest Allen Boulevard and tried to pull him over. Merrill, however, chose instead to flee and headed south on Highway 217.

With Merrill driving erratically, Shaw said the pursuing officers broke off out of a concern for public safety.

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Continuing his trip south, Merrill was reportedly spotted on Interstate-5 a short time later by the Marion County Sheriff's Office Traffic Safety Team. Because Merrill was still driving recklessly, Marion County deputies reportedly chose not to pursue him.

Exiting I-5 at Keizer Station, Merrill was reportedly involved in another hit and run crash at the intersection of Chemawa and Portland roads Northeast, just north of Salem.

An Oregon State Police trooper eventually located Merrill's vehicle at a gas station on Portland Road NE, near Ward Drive NE and the I-5 onramps, about 1.5 miles south from the last hit and run incident.

An OSP trooper reportedly tried to contact Merrill at the gas station, but Merrill once again chose to flee — and this time opting to ram the trooper's car before resuming the road.

Marion County deputies still searching for Merrill reportedly found him a short time later at the Space Age gas station off Cordon Road at 1570 Whitaker Dr. SE. Finding Merrill inside the station at the time, deputies used a K9 to subdue him and take him into custody.

Merrill's previous criminal record in Oregon only shows one instance of interfering with a peace officer in 2001.

Shaw said Merrill is expected to return to Washington County to face his charges after answering for his alleged crimes in Marion County first.

Image via Marion County Sheriff's Office