An Aumsville man with a pending kidnapping case was arrested in Silverton Oct. 25 after a high-speed chase that ended with the suspect allegedly hiding in a resident’s basement.
Steele James Davidson, 30, was pursued by police after allegedly contacting the victim of a domestic violence incident for which Davidson was arrested in March.
He is charged with second-degree kidnapping and first-degree burglary for allegedly holding the victim against her will March 10 at her home in Jefferson. He is scheduled for trial in Marion County Circuit Court Feb. 26, 2024, and if convicted faces at least 70 months in prison.
Davidson was not allowed to contact the victim but on Oct. 25 he was allegedly seen with her in his truck in Salem. When authorities attempted contact Davidson he allegedly drove off. After he ran a red light at Lancaster Drive and Market Stree NE deputies broke off the pursuit.
Shortly afterward, Davidson’s truck was found abandoned in a residential area off Burton Place SE. His GPS monitor revealed he was traveling north on Cascade Highway toward Silverton. A Silverton police officer located a white Honda driven by Davidson and initiated a traffic stop. Davidson allegedly fled on foot into a residence on the 200 block of West Main Street.
Law enforcement surrounded the residence and Davidson’s GPS tracking information showed he was in the house. A police K-9 unit indicated Davidson was in the basement and he was taken into custody without further incident.
Davidson faces a new charge of fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer. As of press time was held in the Marion County Jail in lieu of $580,000 bail.
