Eastern Idaho fugitives shot in Oregon

Two suspects from eastern Idaho were hospitalized after being shot by police in Medford, Ore.

Wayne Pearson and Shavon Willard were wanted after in an incident involving a stolen pickup in Jefferson County in which Pearson allegedly rammed a deputy’s patrol car on Feb. 27. They were also wanted for crimes in Bonneville and Madison counties.

On Thursday around 3 p.m., law enforcement officers in Oregon spotted a white 1998 Dodge 2500 truck that was associated with Pearson and Willard.

Officers from the Medford Police Department, Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Department of Justice, U.S. Marshals Service, and Oregon State Police began following the pickup.

According to news releases from Medford police and the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office, Pearson was aware he was being followed and didn’t stop. He drove into a cul-de-sac.

Officers didn’t follow, but were about to lay spike strips in case the pickup came out of the cul-de-sac. Before they could do this, Pearson allegedly sped up and intentionally hit an occupied police vehicle.

Four officers fired at the truck, which sped away and crashed into a nearby yard.

Both suspects were taken into custody without further incident. They were hospitalized for gunshot wounds.

Idaho officials are keeping a close eye on this case.

Pearson is facing a charge of grand theft out of Bonneville County, while Willard is facing a felony failure to comply with pre-trial services charge, according to the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office. Pearson faces charges of evading arrest and aggravated assault on a police officer in Jefferson County, and is also wanted in connection with a car theft in Madison County.

Prosecutors in those counties said they are not in a rush to extradite Pearson and Willard. They are waiting to see what charges the pair face in Oregon.