Police Arrest Man Who Sprayed Lake Oswego Officer With Bear Pepper Spray

LAKE OSWEGO, OR — Police on Monday arrested a man who allegedly sprayed a Lake Oswego officer with bear pepper spray during an early-morning traffic stop.

Bill Paul Anderson, 46, was lodged at the Clackamas County Jail and charged with unlawful use of mace, attempting to elude a police officer, assaulting a public safety officer, driving while suspended, and several other charges related to a previous crime for which Anderson had multiple outstanding arrest warrants, police said. His bail is set at $115,000.

Around 4:30 a.m. May 15, Lake Oswego Police Officer Josh Price stopped Anderson in the area of Carmen and Fieldstone drives in Lake Oswego, near Waluga Park - West. As Price approached Anderson's vehicle, Anderson allegedly reached out the window and doused Price with bear pepper spray before speeding away from the scene.

Lake Oswego Police Sgt. Earl Hall, who'd been assisting Price in the traffic stop, followed Anderson about two miles west to the intersection of Lower Boones Ferry and Southwest McEwan roads, where Anderson pulled over again. This time, after Anderson parked his car, he got out and started running.

With help from the West Linn Police Department and Washington County Sheriff's Office, Lake Oswego officers setup a containment perimeter and tasked the Tigard Police Department's K9 unit with tracking down Anderson — who was found hiding in a shed. Anderson was taken into custody without further incident, police said.

Price was treated by American Medical Response paramedics but did not sustain any serious injuries, police said.

Photo Courtesy: Lake Oswego Police Department