Beaverton police arrest man suspected of stealing, crashing juice truck

BEAVERTON, Ore. – Beaverton police arrested the man who they say stole a juice delivery truck and led officers on a pursuit Wednesday morning.

Police responded to Winco Foods on Southwest Cedar Hills boulevard and Southwest Fairfield Street around 8 a.m. after an Odwalla delivery truck driver reported his truck had just been stolen.

At around 8:15 a.m., officers found the stolen vehicle near Southwest Murray Boulevard and Southwest Farmington Road. Officers tried to stop the driver in the truck near Southwest Farmington Road and Southwest Erickson Avenue.

The suspect, later identified as 29-year-old Alan Baker, refused to stop and at one point, police say he drove into the oncoming lanes of traffic.

Officers stopped pursuing the stolen truck due to the icy road conditions and the danger to the public.

At around 8:20 a.m., Baker crashed the truck into a small tree and city parking sign near Southwest Lombard Avenue and Southwest 1st Street, police said. Baker then reportedly ran away from the crash scene toward the Beaverton police station.

Police say Baker removed some of his clothes to change his appearance, but officers found him near the south side of the Beaverton Police Department. A K-9 used for tracking and other officers who saw Baker driving confirmed he was the suspect.

Baker was arrested on charges of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, first-degree aggravated theft, attempt to elude felony and misdemeanor, hit-and-run, reckless driving, and reckless endangering.