Man Sought After Hit-and-Run | Oregon Car Accident Lawyers

Date: November 29, 2009
Location: NW Greenwood & NW 8th, Redmond, Oregon
Names: Theodore “Teddy” Ernest Jokinen, Cody Stephen Stackhouse, Anthony A. Ortega, Melissa Jokinen

Oregon State Police have asked for the public’s help in finding Theodore “Teddy” Ernest Jokinen, 32, who fled after crashing a stolen car into a parked truck in Redmond, Oregon, on November 29, 2009. OSP troopers previously located two passengers who also left the scene, according to KOHD.com.

Officers found one of the passengers, Anthony A. Ortega, 25, hiding in the backyard of a nearby home. He was taken to Deschutes County Jail on three outstanding warrants.
Another passenger, Cody Stephen Stackhouse, 20, was discovered as he tried to hitchhike away from the scene. Stackhouse sustained a head injury, and was transported to St. Charles Redmond Medical Center.

A third passenger, Melissa Jokinen, 34, was found injured inside the car, and did not try to flee. She was detained at the scene, and later taken to the same hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

OSP Sergeant Eric Brown told KOHD.com that, around 2 PM, Senior Trooper Andy McCool spotted a black 1996 Honda careening down the road, ignoring stop signs and nearly hitting a car at an intersection. As the Honda turned south from NW Greenwood onto NW 8th, a witness saw the car crash into the side of a parked truck. The driver, Theodore Jokinen, Ortega and Stackhouse ran from the scene. Meanwhile, officers detained Melissa Jokinen.

Police discovered the Honda had stolen license plates, and later learned that the car was an unreported stolen vehicle. Before the crash, the car’s occupants had stopped for gas, and left without paying their $45 bill.

As of November 30, state police were continuing to investigate, assisted by Redmond Police Department and Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office. They requested anyone with information on Jokinen’s whereabouts to call 911 or OSP dispatch at 1-800-452-7888.

We would like to add our own appeal: If you know anything at all that might help the police, please contact them immediately. We believe finding Jokinen is a matter of public safety.

Hit-and-run is a serious violation of Oregon Vehicle Code 811.705. The hit-and-run driver must be held civilly and criminally responsible for his actions.