A 20-year-old man is in custody after an alleged carjacking turned into a 115-mile-per-hour chase through North Portland on Friday evening, ending only when he ditched the vehicle and was tracked down by police with help from above.
Police say the carjacking was reported around 6:15 p.m. in the 7000 block of North Portsmouth Avenue. According to KPTV, officers later spotted the stolen vehicle near North Peninsular Avenue and North Hunt Street and attempted to stop it. The driver reportedly pushed the car to speeds of up to 115 miles per hour before bailing out and taking off on foot.
The Portland Police Air Support Unit helped guide officers on the ground, and 20-year-old Damaree Baxter was eventually arrested without reported injuries. Per KPTV, Baxter was booked into the Multnomah County jail on multiple counts, including first-degree robbery, second-degree robbery, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, unlawful use of a weapon, attempt to elude by vehicle, reckless endangerment and reckless driving. Investigators say a firearm was recovered in the area.
Police are asking anyone who witnessed the incident or captured video to email [email protected] and reference case number 26-103139.
How police tracked the suspect
The Portland Police Bureau frequently leans on its Air Support Unit to follow fleeing vehicles and relay locations to officers on the streets. The bureau has previously released footage showing the unit spotting stolen cars and assisting with carjacking and elude cases, turning what could be prolonged chases into coordinated takedowns.
Friday’s arrest also lands in the middle of stepped-up enforcement and street-takeover responses in North Portland, including a high-profile North Portland street takeover report that highlighted increased patrols and targeted operations in the area.
What happens next
According to KPTV, Baxter remains in the Multnomah County jail as detectives continue their work and the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office reviews the case for formal charging decisions.
Vehicle thefts and carjackings have drawn both local and federal attention in recent years, and Hoodline previously covered a coordinated effort to address the spike in carjackings in April 2024. Investigators say the probe into this particular incident is still active.
