A Polk County jury found 35-year-old David Leroy Miles guilty last week of attempted assault on a public safety officer, among other charges for a May incident.
On May 16, two Salem police officers were called to a scene near Northwest Taggart Drive and Wallace Road where they encountered Miles and stopped him for questioning about an altercation he was accused of starting with another man, according to the probable cause affidavit. After being told he could not leave, Miles fled on bike.
Once officers relocated him, court documents state Miles punched the officers repeatedly and stole one of the patrol vehicles, leading officers on a high-speed chase where Miles did significant damage to property and the vehicle. Officers pursued Miles along Wallace Road and arrested him after he got the car stuck in a grass field and fled on foot.
Court records show that Miles was convicted by a jury on Sept. 9 of multiple felonies after a two-day trial: first degree criminal mischief, fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, escape in the second degree, unauthorized use of a vehicle, and possession of a stolen vehicle.
Miles was also convicted of three misdemeanors: Attempt to Commit a Class A Misdemeanor, Resisting Arrest, and reckless driving.
Polk County Circuit Court Judge Norm Hill agreed with the state’s argument that the defendant’s conduct was especially aggravated and merited a lengthier sentence than typical under Oregon statutes, according to a press release from the Polk County District Attorney’s Office.
The judge sentenced Miles to a total of 68 months in prison and one year of post-prison supervision.
Contact reporter Jordyn Brown at [email protected].
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Jordyn Brown is an Oregon journalist who formerly worked for the Eugene Register-Guard.
