Eugene Police Street Crimes Unit has been focusing efforts on public safety at local parks, 13th and Chambers, 10th/Grant (MLK Jr. Park), and West Eugene. During their patrols on September 7, around 5 p.m., they were looking for two wanted individuals: Michael James Hikes, age 35, of Eugene, and his girlfriend Lisa Ember Martin, age 24, of Reedsport. SCU had learned both either frequented or stayed at the 13th and Chambers camp. The officers ended up near 10th and Grant (MLK Jr. Park), which was extremely active with frequent, short-stay traffic, and saw Hikes and Martin leave the area on bicycles.
Officers initiated a stop of the pair. Martin rode her bike away to W 13th Ave and Grant Aly where an undercover officer approached her and asked her if she was alright. Martin appeared frantic and asked to be given a ride, threw her bike in the vehicle and attempted to open the locked front passenger door. The officer exited and identified himself as a police officer and took her into custody on the warrants.
Hikes meanwhile had immediately began to elude on his bike, eventually going to the ground and then ditching his bike in a backyard. EPD K9 team Sgt. Rob Griesel and Kuiil responded to search. Hikes tried to hide in the side yard of a residence in the 1100 block of Hayes. Sgt. Griesel and Kuiil, along with a Patrol lieutenant took Hikes into custody without incident and then searched for and recovered a bag he had dumped that contained Xanax bars, two grams of heroin and some tools.
Cases 21-13965 and 21-13966
Eugene Police Street Crimes Unit
The SCU has been focusing on prolific offenders, who are identified through intelligence-based policing, public tips and other sources. They have been proactively responding across the city to quality of life issues as they arise, using all available resources and partners such as community groups, neighborhood associations and city services. SCU is dedicated to targeting immediate and acute community safety system issues while working toward mission-critical enhancements that need to be addressed through a longer-term and broader community safety initiative. The unit currently consists of a lieutenant, a sergeant and eight officers.