Translate
OREGON CITY, Or. -- A Portland man who stole a Ford Mustang from an auto dealer and later eluded a police officer who tried to stop him was sentenced last week in Clackamas County Circuit Court to 24 months in prison.
A Clackamas County jury deliberated for about 15 minutes before finding Jayairus Joshua Johnson guilty of Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, Unlawful Use of a Vehicle, Attempting to Elude a Police Officer, Reckless Driving and Recklessly Endangering Another Person.
On Jan. 6, 2025, Johnson visited Diplomat Motors and looked at several expensive cars. Johnson, 37, claimed he was pre-approved for a loan of up to $100,000. The sales manager told him a credit check was necessary before Johnson would be allowed to test drive a car.
Johnson declined, and the sales manager walked him to the door.
A few minutes later, the manager heard a revving engine and the squeal of tires. He found Johnson -- and a dark blue 2020 Mustang valued at $29,200 -- were gone.
Using a tracking device in the Mustang, the sales manager alerted police to the car’s location. A West Linn police officer spotted the car on Oregon 43 and attempted to pull it over. Johnson fled, speeding and, at times, passing vehicles in the oncoming lane or driving into oncoming traffic.
The officer terminated the pursuit for safety purposes.
Johnson abandoned the car at a West Linn apartment complex. Police initially were unable to locate him.
A short time later, officers found Johnson walking in a nearby neighborhood. Johnson claimed he was coming from a bus stop.
He was dressed in the same clothing he wore at the auto dealer, and police found a Ford Mustang key fob in one of his pockets.
Clackamas County Circuit Court case 25CR01134
