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Sep-15-2006 15:44printcomments

Alleged Purse Snatcher Leads Deputies on Car Chase Through Northeast Salem

Deputies chased after 23-year-old Darius Pittman for more than 11 miles, at speeds near 100 mph, before he crashed trying to avoid a spike strip.

Darius Pittman
Darius Pittman
Photos courtesy: Kevin Rau/Marion County Sheriff's Office

(SALEM) - Just after 9:00 AM Friday morning, Marion County Sheriff’s Deputies were called to the Tumnak Thai restaurant at 3082 Lancaster Dr NE on a report that an adult male had stolen a purse belonging to the business owner, 57-year-old Windham Myong, of Salem.

23-year old Darius Pittman

She reported that the man grabbed her purse from the counter inside the business and fled after she had gone into the kitchen to prepare food he had ordered.

While Deputies were responding to the business they spotted a car matching the description given of a white four door Acura.

When the Deputies attempted to stop the car they say the driver, 23-year-old Darius Pittman, of Salem, did not stop the car and lead Deputies on a chase spanning more than 11 miles and reaching speeds near 100 mph until Pittman crashed his car in the 3900 block of Lancaster Dr NE after trying to avoid a spike strip.

During the pursuit the Acura sideswiped as many as three other vehicles causing minor damage.

After the crash, Pittman surrendered to Deputies.

He was uninjured in the crash.

Pittman was lodged at the Marion County Jail on charges of First Degree Theft, Felony Attempt to Elude a Police Officer and Reckless Driving.




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Elroy from maui,hawaii October 3, 2010 7:16 pm (Pacific time)

brah everybody just shut up...he was one of my good braddahz ...his mom is a great mom to him we just was hard head and should have listen to our parents but we all make mistakes....I took care of this kid ..I wish I was there..I wish he never left maui ..god bless my braddah ....Aloha


Duran F July 19, 2010 1:37 pm (Pacific time)

he was thhe coolest kid i knew in high school would never hurt any one very sweet even.Its too bad what drugs make a person do too bad.I am very sorry for you my friend.May the good lord forgive again sorry pittman


anonymous November 3, 2007 7:31 pm (Pacific time)

Thats too bad about his sentencing. The judge in his case must have been feeling compassionate. I thought if anyone, anywhere deserved the death penalty, it was this scumbag. Now we(taxpayers) have to pay for him for the rest of his life. What a waste.


a relative September 6, 2007 8:59 pm (Pacific time)

To all of you that think you know Darius so well, you don't know him at all. The boy I knew growing up was a happy, sweet person who would never hurt a fly. If you knew him so well, you would know the massive trials and tribulations that he had to go through because of his family life. I am not condoning the crimes that he has been charged with. I think anyone should do their time if they commit a crime. If any of you had to endure what he did, you probably would have turned to drugs or worse. And as far as his mother, he didn't have to steal from her. She would have given him anything he wanted. I feel awful for any of his alleged victims, but he is still our nephew and we love him. We are heartbroken. I don't understand why anyone would turn to drugs, but so many people do. If you have a loved one that is close to crossing that line, please intervene and help them. Don't let them end up in jail or in the ground.


anonymous August 9, 2007 4:20 am (Pacific time)

I knew this guy in Hawaii. He is a major ice-head. He would steal from anyone, even his own mother.


Addict in Recovery August 8, 2007 5:31 pm (Pacific time)

He is sick. He is not a bad person. He has made a bad decision.


menehune October 26, 2006 12:36 am (Pacific time)

How? Do we reform offenders o lower recidivism among young offenders that have the intillegence to succeed in life? We need to implement a program that will impact them during the short time during their incarceration. We've alll heard it "Im not going back there" now we need to give offenders tools and resources to keep them out.


Albert Marnell September 17, 2006 10:25 am (Pacific time)

James, Good Insight! Let's hear more from you!


RJ September 17, 2006 7:40 am (Pacific time)

Albert: I do agree with you wholeheartly. Everyone is an individual and it is unfortunate that there are those that are driven, to commit crimes for self purposes.


James September 16, 2006 11:37 pm (Pacific time)

Funny, if that was his car he trashed somewhere around a 10-15k car... For a purse. How wee-todd-didd. And people say we are evolving? I say many are de-volving. This guy is somewhere between a monkey and a species of baboon known as the "buffoon".


Albert Marnell September 16, 2006 10:45 am (Pacific time)

RJ: You never know what is in someones head. I really not only do not care what other people do to satisfy their sexual appetite for whatever, I encourage people to be who they are. It is just a shame that the guy felt he had to steal a purse to get whatever he wanted.. Probably meth but I should not even say that. We really do not know.


RJ September 16, 2006 7:44 am (Pacific time)

Albert: Do you suppose that he was stealing the purse in hopes that may have contained money, so he could buy shoes to wear with this stunning pink chiffon gown??


Dean Blough September 15, 2006 11:51 pm (Pacific time)

When are the states going to toughen up on people who avade police and give a minimum sentance of 10 years, they cause property damage and running is a form of attempted murder in my book


Anonymous September 15, 2006 8:15 pm (Pacific time)

was it worth it!


Steve September 15, 2006 5:01 pm (Pacific time)

Low life piece of cow dung. But, he is probably already been released and is planning his next "caper."


Albert Marnell September 15, 2006 4:43 pm (Pacific time)

The only intelligent place to snatch a purse is in the middle of a transatlantic flight. You just have to try to make a run for it. I don't see what the big deal is. I think if the purse matches this guys backless evening gown in pink chiffon he could be quite stunning. And no one is thinking of what he is is going to wear to the prom. People are so short sighted.

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