Eugene man arrested on kidnapping warrant after refusing to stop for police and driving toward Walmart entrance during pursuit

Eugene, OR – The Eugene Police Department arrested a man wanted on a felony kidnapping warrant after he allegedly refused to stop for officers and led them through parking lots in Eugene.

Police said officers received a call at 7:54 a.m. on October 19 from Manuel James Vasquez, who reported that he believed he had contact with police the previous night and that officers had attempted to perform a precision immobilization technique, or PIT maneuver, on his vehicle. Police said the reported incident had not occurred.

Vasquez initially told officers he was in front of the WinCo store on Barger Drive. A records check revealed his felony warrant, and police said he had also been reported as a trespasser at the store.

Vasquez later told officers he was driving near West 11th Avenue and agreed to meet them at Target. Instead, police said, he led officers on a slow pursuit through the Target parking lot, back onto West 11th Avenue and into the Walmart parking lot.

An officer pulled alongside Vasquez and directed him to stop, but he continued toward the store entrance. Concerned about customers entering and leaving Walmart, the officer struck Vasquez’s vehicle in an effort to stop it. Another officer assisted in boxing in the car, bringing the incident to an end.

Vasquez was arrested on the kidnapping warrant and additionally charged with eluding police by vehicle. He was also cited for driving without an operator’s license.