On April 29th at about 3:30am., the Lane County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a possible kidnapping. Deputies were able to track the involved suspect vehicle to the area of Veneta. Deputies attempted to stop the vehicle, but it fled east on Highway 126 and then south on Crow Road. The victim was able to communicate she was in the vehicle during the pursuit.
The vehicle turned up a private driveway and a deputy conducted a PIT maneuver, disabling the vehicle and enabling the victim to escape.
Deputies arrested Christopher Forrest Stechelin, 29, and lodged him at the Lane County Jail on charges of Elude by Vehicle, Reckless Driving, Reckless Endangering, Coercion, Attempted Unlawful Use of a Vehicle, Robbery in the Third Degree, and False Information to a Peace Officer. Stechelin was also arrested on an Oregon State Parole Board warrant.