Bend Man Arrested Again After Motorcycle Pursuit

Train traffic temporarily halted during search in Deschutes River Woods

BEND, Ore. — A Bend man was arrested for the second time in a month Tuesday after threatening a deputy and fleeing on a motorcycle in Deschutes River Woods, according to the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office.

Authorities said 40-year-old Paul Akehurst had been in Deschutes County Circuit Court earlier in the day before contacting a deputy in Deschutes River Woods at about 1:32 p.m. Deputies said Akehurst made threatening statements and gestures toward the deputy before leaving the area on a motorcycle.

The deputy attempted to stop him, but Akehurst sped away. Deputies followed him to the area of Cherokee and Navajo roads, prompting a large law enforcement response and a search along nearby railroad tracks.

Officials said BNSF Railway temporarily halted train traffic in the area while deputies searched for Akehurst. After nearly an hour, deputies located him at approximately 2:34 p.m. and took him into custody without further incident.

Authorities noted the arrest comes roughly one month after Akehurst was taken into custody by the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team in the Sunriver area on Feb. 25. In that incident, he was wanted on multiple felony warrants, including aggravated identity theft, eluding, reckless driving, reckless endangering, and driving while suspended or revoked.

Akehurst was lodged at the Deschutes County Adult Jail and faces new charges of eluding and reckless endangering.

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