Car chase ends with arrest

By JESSICA KELLER
ARGUS OBSERVER
Friday, November 21, 2008 11:12 AM PST

PAYETTE — A high-speed pursuit that began in Idaho ended with the arrest of a New Meadows man after he was pulled from the Snake River at Ontario State Park early Wednesday.

Payette Police Chief Mark Clark said Christopher Oren Wiser, 31, was arrested following a chase that began in Payette and ended just outside of Ontario.

The incident began, Clark said, when a Payette police officer noticed a suspicious vehicle in the 500 block of North Seventh Street in Payette at about 12:45 a.m. The officer attempted to make contact with the driver, later identified as Wiser, who then started to drive away. The officer followed the car for at least two blocks before trying to initiate a traffic stop, which was when the driver accelerated, driving on North Sixth Street out of town and onto Idaho Highway 52 into Oregon. The officer pursued the suspect, who was driving in excess of 100 mph, on Oregon Highway 201 into Ontario and the state park, Clark said. At the state park, the suspect drove down the boat ramp and exited the vehicle before running down the dock and jumping into the river. The officer was able to track Wiser down the bank, where he was struggling in the water. With the assistance of Ontario Police Department and Malheur County Sheriff’s Office deputies, Wiser was pulled out of the water 100 yards down river, Clark said.

“He was taken into custody and appeared to be somewhat hypothermic,” he said.

Wiser was taken into custody by OPD. He was charged by Payette police, however, for felony eluding, but Clark did not know what Wiser was charged with by OPD. Clark said Wiser has an extensive criminal history.

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Clark said the officer initially noticed Wiser after seeing him sitting motionless in his vehicle with his lights on.

When Wiser saw the officer, he suspiciously maneuvered the vehicle in an attempt to leave area, which was when the officer decided to follow, Clark said.

In other Payette news, Clark said PPD conducted a traffic “emphasis” between 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Monday, specifically targeting speeders and aggressive drivers. During the emphasis officers made 60 traffic stops, issued 20 citations and made three arrests and one warrant arrest.

“We are going to be conducting these emphases at lease once a month in an effort to promote traffic safety in the city,” Clark said.