Shortly after midnight on Dec. 6. a police officer in the Montavilla neighborhood saw a Lancer driving erratically. The officer got behind the vehicle to stop it at Southeast 75th and Pine, but the Lancer sped away from the officer, heading north on 75th Ave. The officer pursued and seconds later the Lancer crashed through a yard and into a house in the 100 block of Northeast 75th Avenue.
The two occupants of the car fled on foot but were caught a few minutes later by a Portland Police K-9 unit. Both occupants were transported area hospitals for minor injuries then booked into the Multnomah County Jail. The home sustained substantial damage. Fortunately, none of the residents were injured.
The driver, Aaron Lawrence, 26, was charged with Unlawful Use of a Motor Vehicle, Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle, Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree, and Attempting to Elude an Officer. The passenger, Michael Matthews, 20, was charged with Unlawful Possession of a Motor Vehicle and Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle.