Portland police arrest car theft suspect accused of causing multiple vehicle crashes, injuries

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Portland police arrested a car theft suspect who is accused of causing multiple crashes and serious injuries on Friday.

David A. Callaway, 27, is facing multiple charges — including car theft and assault — and was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center.

Police said he was located with another person as a passenger in an allegedly stolen 2025 BMW X6. The passenger, 21-year-old Brooklyn J. Williams, was also booked into jail on multiple warrants, authorities said.

Police said what began as a stolen vehicle investigation culminated in drivers from two different Toyota Priuses being sent to the hospital with serious injuries and another unoccupied car getting damaged in a crash.

Just after 10 a.m., a public safety support specialist responded to a report of a stolen car near Northwest Marshall Street and Northwest 13th Avenue. After locating the BMW and seeing people inside it, he requested backup from police officers.

The driver allegedly sped off recklessly just as officers were arriving to the scene. Police said he intentionally eluded law enforcement, despite officers activating emergency lights.

Rather than giving chase, the first arriving officer "quickly deactivated his lights in an effort to encourage the driver to slow down," Portland Police Bureau said in a release.

"The driver continued recklessly driving, causing a minor, non-injury crash at Northwest 16th and Northrup," then left the scene in a hit and run, police said. After that, the driver was allegedly involved in another crash with two Toyota sedans at Northwest 17th Avenue and Northwest Lovejoy Street.

"One of the Toyotas was struck so hard it rolled onto its side," police said. "After the crash, a PPB officer pulled his vehicle up to pin the stolen car in case the reckless driver tried to drive off again."

The driver allegedly tried to flee on foot. However, "numerous officers were coming into the area and they were able to surround and arrest him."

Callaway was charged with two counts of second-degree assault, two counts of failure to perform the duties of a driver (one for injury and one for property damage), unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, possession of a stolen vehicle, two counts of reckless endangering, possession of methamphetamine, and past warrants.