A man who had eluded police in Bend and Deschutes County over the course of two days was finally apprehended in La Grande Friday night. Police had first tried to arrest Corrigan Stufflebeem, 39, after a report of domestic violence Thursday night, but a search of the area of Cloe Lane and SE 15th Street was unable to locate him. Friday morning he was spotted by a Bend Police Office and a high-speed chase ensued. Police laid spike strips down ahead of him in the 64000 block of Deschutes Market Road. This brought his white Honda to a stop, but he ran from the car into the sage and junipers.
Bend Police officers, Deschutes County Sheriff deputies and Oregon State Police troopers set up a perimeter and the search also included the OSP airplane. However, after several hours they gave up this effort concluding (correctly) that Stufflebeem was no longer in the area.
Friday evening La Grande Police were called to a disturbance where they found, cornered and arrested Stufflebeem. He was then lodged into the Union County Jail there on charges of car theft and prison escape. He also faces numerous charges in Deschutes County including felony elude assault.
The prison escape charge stems from his failing to return to the Snake River Prison in Ontario following a temporary leave that had been granted to him.
The car theft charge is the result of Stufflebeem allegedly stealing a car in Redmond which he used to drive to La Grande.
The woman who had first reported the domestic violence had said the Stufflebeem was armed with a large caliber pistol, but this was not found and no gun-related charges have been filed. As a convicted felon, Stufflebeem is prohibited from possessing a firearm.
The man also faces charges of assault against the woman who had initially called.