Police: Car fugitive stole from Springfield recovered in Sutherlin

SUTHERLIN, Ore. - A car police presume was stolen by a wanted man after he fled from officers in Springfield has been recovered in Sutherlin.

However, authorities have yet to catch up with the wanted man, Thomas Grimes, according to Sgt. John Umenhofer with the Springfield Police Department.

Police think Grimes was last driving a 1996 white 4-door Saturday and that he is "shuttling between Roseburg and Springfield and continuing his behavior; he's stealing car after car," Umenhofer said.

The Saturn was recovered Friday in Sutherlin.

Grimes escaped from the Douglas County Jail in June, then ran away from police in Springfield a couple days later.

Officers again caught up with him early Thursday morning in Springfield. Police said Grimes fought with an officer before speeding off in a stolen car, almost hitting another officer who fired his gun at the car.

Grimes crashed that car a few blocks away, then fled into the woods.

Police found no sign of him.

The white Saturn was later reported stolen from a parking lot in the direction Grimes was last seen running Thursday.