Police identify suspect, troopers involved in chase near Pendleton

Published 12:39 pm Tuesday, January 12, 2016

A Pendleton man remains at a Portland hospital after a high-speed chase with Oregon State Police.

Bryan Alberto Corona, 24, is in fair condition at Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, according to a hospital spokesperson. Pendleton police Chief Stuart Roberts in an email stated the Umatilla County District Attorney’s Office plans to take evidence to a grand jury next week to consider charges against Corona.

Troopers Ryan Sharp and James Eslinger and recruit trooper Mitch Pace were involved in the pursuit, according to Roberts. Corona tried to flee from police early Jan. 2 at milepost 2 on Fulton Road, Pendleton, according to police. Sharp and Pace pursued the vehicle, according to Roberts, with Eslinger in tow.

The chase continued over rural roads. Roberts also said Corona fired a gun at the lead police car, hitting it multiple times. One trooper set out a spike strip, flattening at least one tire on Corona’s Honda.

Sharp and Pace maneuvered their car to crash the Honda on South Market Road, according to Roberts, and Eslinger came around the crash and struck Corona, now fleeing on foot, with his patrol car. Police recovered several firearms from the Honda, Roberts reported.

Corona was involved in a bloody fight October 2014 in Pendleton that was connected to a now-defunct white supremacist gang. He pleaded guilty to a charge of riot in that case.

State police Lt. Mike Turner of the Pendleton command said the three troopers involved in the chase remain on paid leave, but he anticipated they soon would return to work.