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48 °F 5 Day Forecast Friday, November 28, 2003 --> Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | eSouthernOregon | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend October 25, 2003 Police gather after a Friday morning chase that began on Interstate 5 and ended on Medford�s Biddle Road with the arrest of Robin Sliger, 44, of Grants Pass. Her car is at the front of the photo; she is sitting in the police car behind. Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli Woman leads police on wild car chase By ANITA BURKE Mail Tribune A reckless driver led police on a chase Friday morning that zoomed down Interstate 5, barreled through city streets and looped circles around a hospital parking lot before the driver was taken into custody. Oregon State Police Sgt. Brian Powers said he was driving north in the left lane of I-5 near Phoenix at about 9:30 a.m. when he spotted an Oldsmobile sedan coming up behind him at 90 to 100 mph. The Oldsmobile dodged into the right lane when its driver saw his patrol car. Another car was in the right lane, and the Oldsmobile swerved onto the shoulder to pass both vehicles on the right, he said. "I was surprised when she passed me on the right," Powers said. She continued speeding north to exit 30, where she left the freeway and headed south on Biddle Road, with Powers in pursuit. The chase slowed on city streets, but the woman refused to halt, he said. The traffic light at Biddle and McAndrews roads stopped them both, and he motioned for her to pull over. Advertisement "She waved back at me with only one finger," he said. Medford police joined the chase as the woman drove east on McAndrews and into the Providence Medford Medical Center parking lot. She circled the lot with officers on her tail and others trying to block her way. "We think we have her boxed in," Powers said, recounting the chase. "I block the exit with my patrol car, but she goes over a curb, through the flower beds," clipping the bumper of the patrol car as she made her break for the street. Medford police chased her down Royal Avenue and Stevens Street to Biddle, where traffic slowed her near the intersection with Progress Drive, Lt. Mike Moran said. Officers moved in to arrest her about 25 minutes after the first reckless pass, Powers said. Moran said officers feared the uncooperative woman might flee again, so they broke out her window and removed her from the car. Robin Sliger, 44, of Grants Pass, was arrested on charges of attempting to elude police in a vehicle, reckless driving, two counts of hit and run for hitting the patrol car and the flower bed and criminal mischief for her assault on the hospital’s shrubbery, Powers said. She was lodged at the Jackson County Jail. Investigating officers then discovered that while Sliger circled the Providence lot, she called the hospital on her cell phone with a bomb threat, Moran said. Police added a disorderly conduct charge for that disruption, he said. Reach reporter Anita Burke at 776-4459, or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times